Explore the cathedral porch.... and other Speyer, Germany Off The Beaten Path Tips

It's easy to walk straight into the main building, or just look at the large memorials in the porch.

But do check around the inside of the structure, because there are some lovely (mainly animal) small carvings. They are the sort of thing I imagine secondary masons would produce; those not considered good enough to work on the really impressive stonework, but still very skilled men (they were always men).

Worth looking for.

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Other Contact: Mariendom, Speyer

.....inside the cathedral itself.

Those which form the pillars, at least, are all decorated. Chisel marks, maybe to make them look more decorative or maybe for 'keying' if they were plastered (don't know enough about German church architectural history).

But someone had to chisel all those marks, and their effort deserves your notice.

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Trinity Church (Dreifaltigkeitskirche) is not open to the public except by arrangement (it has wonderful painted wooden panels and ceiling). It dates from the early 1700s, but if you walk round to the left-hand side you will find evidence for a much older building tucked away.

This was, I believe, the original place of worship on the site and is certainly Medieval (the window arches give it away. There's a plaque explaining its history on the wall (in German though).

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Other Contact: Große Himmelsgasse

If there is any way you can gain entrance to this church whilst you are in Speyer (ask at the Tourist Information office) then do so.

We were lucky enough to have a tour during the 2008 VT Euromeet.

Although the church is not especially old (built 1701-1717) its interior has been preserved exactly as it was. Wooden panels cover the ceiling, and flow along the galleried walls, all covered in detailed paintings of Biblical scenes. The artist was Johann Christian Gutbier.

The abundance of paintings is almost overwhelming, and all the more surprising given that this is a Protestant (Lutheran) church. I always associate Protestantism with a lack of interior decoration, but perhaps that is more of a UK thing (thanks to Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans).

Definitely worth investigating the possibility of access.

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Other Contact: Grosse Himmelstrasse