St. Emmeram's Cathedral, Nitra

The well Basilica of Saint Emmeram (Slovak Katedrála svätého Emeráma or Basilica svätého Emeráma ) Cathedral of St. Emmeram, is a cathedral above the town of Nitra in western Slovakia. Much like the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle it is in the grounds of the Castle of Nitra. The church is dedicated to St. Emmeram of Regensburg and is the cathedral church of the diocese of Nitra.

The cathedral is actually composed of three different church buildings: from a Romanesque church from the 11th century, the Gothic upper church from the 14th century and the lower church from the 17th century.

The oldest part is the Romanesque church of St. Emmeram from the 11th century, stands on the foundations of the 9th century, according to recent research. This was in the 13th century damaged by fire and destroyed in 1317 by the army of the oligarchs Matthew Csák. For this reason and because of the increase of the Christian population in the area was built 1333-1355, a single-nave Gothic church, in which the old church was incorporated. Since that time, she served as chapter house and as a treasury of Kathedralschatzes. 1621-1642 was built on the initiative of Bishop Telegdy Nitransky the lower church, on the southern long side of the upper church and the narrow side of the Romanesque church. It is connected to the upper church by a staircase.

After the castle after 1711 had no strategic function more, they let the churches rebuilt in the Baroque style, according to the plan by Domenico Martinelli. The main altar of the newly created cathedral was consecrated in 1732. The reconstruction was completed in 1736 and dates from this time also the interior appointments.

Among the most valuable parts belongs to the altar of the Cross in the lower church of the Austrian sculptor Hans Pernegg. In the upper church is the altar of the Saviour with a mighty pillar architecture. It is complemented by a ceiling fresco by the Austrian painter Anton Galliarti. However, the Romanesque church bears traces of a repair that was performed prior to the 1931-33 national holidays Pribinove slávnosti, and includes works by contemporary artists like Frantisek Pospisil, Ľudovít Fulla or Ladislav Majerský.

Behind the altar in 2012 and frescoes from the 14th or 15th century during restoration work in the year. It should be one of the most valuable paintings in Slovakia.