Viking Cruise #24: Speyer's Big Bowl, Old Gate and Statues

 Today's blog about our Viking Rhine River cruise keeps us in Speyer, Germany, where I'll tell you about a big bowl and other statues around the famous Cathedral that we explored in an earlier blog. 

(Photo: Mary and Mary Ellen at the Speyer Cathedral Bowl. Cr: R.G.)

STORY BEHIND THE GIANT BOWL OUTSIDE THE CATHEDRAL - A sculpture (?) of a giant bowl about 12 feet in diameter (my guess) sits outside the front entrance of the Speyer Cathedral. Since its construction in the 14th century, a giant bowl played a significant role in the execution of a prison sentence: whoever had broken a state law and fled to the cathedral bowl was protected from prosecution. 

It has been a long time since the cathedral bowl fulfilled these historical functions. 

But a beloved Middle Ages custom continues to be observed in modern times. On special religious occasions, the cathedral bowl is filled with wine. With a capacity of over 1500 liters, many citizens and guests are thereby able to enjoy a taste of the juice of the grape. This occurred most recently at the 950-year anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of Speyer on October 2, 2011.

CATHEDRAL GARDEN STATUES - There are several statues in the garden around the Cathedral, but I couldn't find any information about them on-line. 

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THE OLD GATE - The Old Gate (German: Altpörtel) is the medieval west city gate of Speyer, and is one of the original 68 towers in the old walls and gates. Today it is one of the largest (55 metres or 180 feet tall) and most architecturally significant of the remaining city gates in Germany.

HISTORY OF THE GATE - The Old Gate was built between 1230 and 1250 on the ruins of a previous tower. The bottom of the 13th century tower remains as the foundation but, in 1511, Speyer's mayor ordered that the tower be rebuilt, so the top portion is newer. It was completed in 1514. It was originally built as an exterior gate, connecting the old town with the suburb of St. Gilgenvorstadt. A 20-meter-high (66 ft) roof was added in 1708.

The tower narrowly survived the destruction of Speyer in 1689, during the War of the Grand Alliance.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE? - The old gate was constructed to mark the end of a "Via Triumphalis" that led from the cathedral to the city walls. On major religious occasions, the Emperor and his court would enter the city through the gate and proceed along this roadway—which was 25 to 30 m (80 to 100 ft) wide and 700 m (2,300 ft) long—to the cathedral.

NEXT: Pretzel Ferdinand, the Black Death, and the Old City Wall