The Luebeck Cathedral is a large Lutheran church in Luebeck and one of the world heritage sites. In 1173, Henry the Lion started to build the cathedral for the bishop of Luebeck. Parts of it were destroyed during a bomb raid in the Second World War. The big organ made by Arp Schnitger was destroyed in the fire. In the decades following World War II the damages were repaired. The church, which can be seen today, was finished in 1982. Inside you can also find famous works of artists Bernt Notke and Thomas Quellnius. The altar, which was built by Hans Memling is displayed in the St. Anne Museum.
The bishop´s seat was transfered fom Oldenburg in 1160, and because of this,
Henry the Lion founded the cathedral in 1173. At first the church was built in
the Romanesque style and was finished around 1230. Between 1266 and 1335 the style was
changed into gothic. This means that the two side- aisles were raised up to the main aisle.
In a bombing raid on the night of the 28th of March, 1942, big areas of Luebeck were
destroyed. During these attacks bombs fell on parts of the cathedral, for example the
altar from 1696 was completely destroyed.
A fire from the neighboring museum flashed over to the truss of the cathedral which caused the towers
to collapse. In the same night the organ was lost in the
flames. But many parts of the cathedral could be saved. In 1946 the gable of the
northern transept collapsed and destroyed the vestibule.
The rebuilt took a long time because at the same time the reconstruction work of the Marienkirche (St. Mary´s Church) took place so the work was completed in 1982.
In the cathedral you can find a crucifix with a height of
17 meters which was built by Bernt Notke. It was erected in 1477.
Since the war the altar of Hans Memling has become a part of the medieval collection in the
St. Annen Museum.