HANSEATIC CITY LUEBECK    

The "Dom" (Cathedral) - Where to find the paradise in Lübeck

The "Dom", it's towering spires are part of the famous silhouette of the Hanseatic city, is the eldest building monument of Lübeck. After the town had become episcopal residence in 1160 Henry the Lion laid the foundation stone for this monumental brick-work-building in 1173. Before this, a wooden church had already existed at the same place.The romanesque Dom, a three aisle basilica with piers, had been completed says, in 1230. Not later than 30 years after that the bishop Johannes von Diest, who came from the Rhineland, attached an entrance hall of late romanesque style, the so called "Paradise". It served as entrance, as asylum for persecutees, as place where alms were issued and, now and then,as court house as well.

The romanesque building was modified in the years between 1226 and 1335 and became a Gothic hall church. During modification the side aisles were lifted up to meet the height of the nave (20 metres).On the east side the romanesque "Apsiden" (altar niches) were replaced by a Gothic surrounding choir which was consecrated in 1341. In the Gothic period lateral chapels were attached to the main aisle. Their present arrangement of details partly originates from the Baroque.

During the air - raid in 1942 heavy damages were done to the Dom. Vaults crashed in. The "Paradise" was buried by a side gable crashing down not sooner than in 1946.

In post war times Lübeck's citizens were irresolute for a long period for they did not know how the Dom was to be reerected and styled. The reconstruction did not sooner start than in 1960 after the reconstruction of St. Marienchurch. The costs covered an amount of approx. 13 millions of Mark, 20 percent of which accumulated by donations. The rest was borne by the church, the city, the Land and the Federal Government.

In order to revive the typical town silhouette of Lübeck with its seven spires, first the Dom towers were reconstructed in 1958/59. The main aisle could take up its purpose as parish church in 1970. The Gothic choir remained separated by a glass wall. Originally it was intended to leave it uncompleted, thus serving as a memorial. But the foundation "Stiftung Dom zu Lübeck" collected such a lot of money that the choir could also be reconstructed. It was completed in 1977. The glass-wall remained, in order to enable the choir to be used as a room for conventions and exhibitions.

The completion of the Paradise became the honouring action of the reconstruction of Lübeck's Dom. Within six years the splendid entrance-hall of the Dom was reconstructed in its medieval form at the cost of more than two million Marks. It was completed in 1982.

In Lübeck's Dom there can be found numerous works of art: in the first place the 17 m high "Triumphal Crucifix" by Bernt Notke (1477). It took about six years (1972 -1977) to bring it into a spectable condition. Beneath the four figures of more than life - size kneels bishop Albert Krummedik who ordered this work of art and who was buried underneath the crucifix.

Further works of art are: The wooden screen of carved oak - wood with the over- sized figures of the patron saints St. Nikolaus, Mary, John the Baptist and St. Blasius. All these works of art were made by Bernt Notke. The astronomical clock was added later on in 1625, it still runs with the original inner works. Apart from the wooden screen and the triumphal crucifix there are medieval altars, images of the Virgin Mary made of sandstone, miller's crown, pulpit in renaissance style (1568) together with the railing of the "Stecknitzfahrer" (Stecknitz - shippers) (1572), christening font of 1455. Numerous tombstones of bishops, sarcophagus' of princebishops of Lübeck and later grand dukes of Oldenburg.

All what is left from the former monastery is the cloister in the southern transept (from the museum to the Dom). During the reconstruction the organ was relocated into the northern aisle. The instrument having been consecrated in 1970 (47 registers), was restored by the firm of Marcussen from Denmark. The position of the former burnt - out organ was in the western part (between the towers). This part is now separated by a three - partite glass window made by Lothar Quinte in 1963.