Viking Cruise #29: Breisach's Cathedral, Dark History, View & Kupfertor

Today's blog returns to Breisach, and the Cathedral and views from the top of the "Upper Town." As someone who is sensitive to the environment and energy, there was something eerie about the Cathedral. Today's blog explains why.

(Photo: We made the climb to the Upper Town. I wished I brought my asthma inhaler with me, but recovered quickly. Credit: R.G.)

GETTING TO THE UPPER TOWN - It was a good, steep climb of about 20 minutes from Breisach's Lower Town to the Upper Town. There were a good number of stone steps, and then a long, steep, bricked walk, sometimes bordered on one side by a very steep brick wall! 

THE EERIE FEELING - At the top of the hill, surrounding St. Stephan's Minster was a huge bricked / cobblestone square called "Minster Square." It felt like something was not right there, like there was bad energy. While we were there, we learned there used to be a cemetery around the church that was "bricked over" and was now Minster Square! The cathedral square served as a cemetery in the Middle Ages until the middle of the 17th century, then as a parade ground until the 18th century. No wonder all those people on the "other side" were unhappy - they were bricked over!  But that eerie feeling didn't end there. 

ABOUT THE CATHEDRAL - According to Tourism-BW, The Minster was built in the 12th-15th centuries in Romanesque and Gothic styles. Although it was badly damaged during World War II in 1945, significant works of art of its time have been preserved inside.Tombstones and epitaphs from the 14th-18th centuries are evidence of Breisach's turbulent history under Anterior Austrian and French rule. 

INSIDE THE EERIE CATHEDRAL - Upon entering, it seemed the Minster was dark and it had a very heavy, depressing energy about it. With the prison nearby, there was a lot of bad energy around. 

AMAZING VIEW - From the Upper Town, around the back side of the Cathedral is an amazing view of the town all the way down to the Rhine River. 

WHAT'S A KUPFERTOR? - It's a copper gate separating the Upper Town from the Lower Town on a path. It was built by Vauban in 1641 when the fortress of Breisach extended beyond the old fortifications. Thus, the copper gate is significantly younger than the other gates in Breisach. 

(Photo of the Kupfertor - Gate in Breisach)

NEXT:  The Black Forest!