Description
One of the largest domes in Europe
St. Blasien Cathedral was inaugurated in 1783 and stands in St. Blasien near Waldshut in the southern Black Forest. The former abbey church has a height of 62m and its dome is still one of the largest in Europe. The first church, the Old Cathedral, was built on the site of the cathedral in the 11th century. However, new buildings had to be built again and again, as many fires fell victim to. In 1806 the Benedictine monastery was dissolved in the course of secularisation and today the monastery building contains a boarding school, while the cathedral itself is still used by the parish.
Cathedral or Münster?
The cathedral, which was never the position of a bishop's seat and should therefore be called like its predecessors Münster, was designed by the French architect Pierre Michel d'Ixnard in the early classicist style and completed by some successors with small modifications. The church contained the bones of several Habsburg family members before the beginning of secularisation and thus also the desecration of the cathedral.
Impressive inner life
The cathedral is to be particularly emphasized by its interior design. The entire interior is white, even the columns and chairs are white. In contrast to this is the black organ. The cold design of the walls directs the eye directly to the ceiling paintings, especially in the dome.
The former imperial abbey
During the heyday of the monastery it held a lot of power, many communities and monasteries were subordinated to the monastery council as far as Italy. On the dome you can still find the imperial abbey next to the cross, as the monastery used to be an imperial abbey.
How to get there
By car:
With the car you can reach the Dom St. Blasien very well. Just take the B31 and exit at Titisee. From here you continue on the B500 via Feldberg-Bärental towards Waldshut until you reach Häusern. From houses you only have to drive 4km to St. Blasien.
By public transport:
It is difficult to get there by public transport because there are no trains stopping nearby.