Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption (Chur)

The Cathedral Church of the Assumption in Chur, Graubunden Canton, Switzerland, is named after the Assumption of Mary Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Chur. The residence of the Bishop of Chur, the Episcopal Palace, located in the courtyard of the cathedral opposite.

• 3.1 Longobard relief panels ( 8th century )
• 3.2 The Romanesque capitals
• 3.3 The Apostle columns
• 3.4 The late Gothic tabernacle
• 3.5 mural paintings of the Gothic
• 3.6 Ceiling decoration of the 17th century
• 3.7 Organs 3.7.1 main organ
• 3.7.2 choir organ

History

The diocese of Chur lived in the 4th century in the territory of Churrätien. A bishop of the Diocese of Chur was first mentioned in the year 451/452. One can assume that the first cathedral was already built around the year 450. Originally Milan assumed the archbishopric of Mainz diocese was 831 slammed, under which it remained until 1803.

The Bishops of Chur succeeded already soon to consolidate their feudal power. From the 12th century they possessed the rank of imperial princes. During the Reformation around 1524 the episcopal court was politically and religiously to the enclave. This special position as an independent from the city, purely episcopal territory kept at the farm to the cantonal constitution of 1854. It was not until 1854, the influx of Catholic citizens was possible, which henceforth the cathedral served as the national church. 1880, the cathedral parish Chur was built.

Architectural History

The present building of the cathedral was built in 1150-1272 as a late Romanesque pillar basilica, the decision to build new falls approximately in the time of Bishop Adalgott ( 1151-1160 ). The construction of the East was in accordance with the state of the research started and spread over several stages, in which little by little the predecessor gave way to the new building. After about 120 years of construction, the now completed cathedral was consecrated on June 19, 1272.

1828/1829 received the cathedral as a result of Hofbrandes of 13 May around 1811 today's tower with a curved hood, which was rebuilt on the foundations of the previous structure, built around 1500 tower.

As a fortified church stands the Cathedral with the Bishop's Palace and the Domherrenhöfen as ecclesiastical district on a rocky terrace above the old town of Chur. During archaeological excavations traces of a late Roman fortress have been found dating from the 4th century at this place and it is thought that the Romans took advantage of the unique location of the cliff as a seat for the leadership of the province of Raetia.

The acting from the outside simply building the cathedral is cubic closed. The main entrance in the center of the west facade was built in 1250, it is surrounded by twelve slender columns on Attic bases. In the tympanum there is a grid of 1730, which is surrounded by the two diocese cartridges Lucius and Flurinus Mary. Above that is the great Romanesque west window.

The striking lion sculpture on the outer north-east corner of the chancel dates from the early 13th century. Found on the outer east wall of the chancel above the high Romanesque arched windows, the Fragment of a Crucifixion scene from the first third of the 14th century.

Interior

The nave of the late Romanesque pillar basilica divided into three large, almost square yokes. The choir increased lying has the same width as the nave, and is accessible via side stairs. Beneath the choir is a two-piece crypt. In the crypt the tombs of the noble family were ministerial families (of Juvalt of Castelmur, and others). The Friien of Juvalt had in the crypt own (now disappeared ) Altar Corporis Christi which, on the wall, which stood on the right side to remove 1617 Juvaltische crest. < / ref > Fortunat of Juvalta: Short Anzeigung the origin and nobility of ancient respected tribe of JUVALT. Chur 1777. STAGR T 225 016 (IV 25 e2). The nave is associated with two aisles on the south aisle closes in the East Chapel at Lawrence. It is followed by still further east, the two-storey sacristy.

Looking at the floor plan, a strong asymmetry is striking, perhaps due to the difficult topographical conditions, but perhaps may be theologically explained: the snapping-off to the north choir could the inclined head of Christ symbolize in the overall context of the plan on the cross. The architecture of the cathedral houses a variety of customized solutions that lead to a special room impression.

Restoration

1921 to 1926 there was a total renovation. From 2001 to 2007, the cathedral of a comprehensive restoration was subjected. This was the preservation of the buildings over the centuries grown as a priority. After seven years of planning and construction, the building was dedicated 7 October 2007 as part of a worship service led by the retired Bishop Amédée grave and in the presence of the diocesan Bishop Vitus Huonder and symbolically handed over to the church community and the public. The budget for the restoration of CHF 22 million was met thanks to contributions from the federal, cantonal and ecclesiastical corporations and donations from private individuals and companies.

Equipment

From the late Gothic period the Knospenkapitelle come on stage portal and the carved altar (completed in 1492) of Jacob Russ, a tabernacle and a fresco of Waltensburger master. The chapel of St. Lawrence has a network of vaults to 1467.

Lombard relief panels ( 8th century )

The oldest sculpture of the cathedral is probably from the previous building, the so-called Tello 's Cathedral. There are relief panels of white marble of Lasa. They date from the 8th century and are regarded as a masterpiece of Lombard sculpture. They show Flechtwerkornamente with animals ( lions, etc.) or spiral tendrils with leaves and grapes. Today, the plates dress up the dining hall of the St. Lawrence Altar of to 1545.

The Romanesque capitals

The Roman capitals were taken during the construction of the cathedral. To view the forms used different stages of development: from Romanesque Würfelkapitell in the crypt until the early Gothic bud capital at the main entrance. The highlight are the Figurenkapitelle in the choir and in the eastern nave, masterpieces of Lombard stonemasons, whose names are not known.

The apostles columns

The four apostles columns are among the outstanding sculptures of the Middle Ages. Together with the lion riding in the Vorkrypta and the two guardian lions at the rising chorus they originate probably a lettnerartigen structure over the cross altar ( around 1220 ). The apostles columns are now at the entrance to the crypt, their master is not known by name.

The late Gothic tabernacle

The tabernacle counts as a masterpiece of late Gothic to the most important works of this genre in Switzerland. The delicate work of art bears the date 1484 and a coat of arms of Bishop Ortlieb von Brandis ( 1458-1491 ). The work is attributed Stonemasons Claus of Feldkirch.

Murals of the Gothic

An important Gothic painting cycle, consisting of several layers of paint, is located in the west bay of the north aisle. The older part of the paintings from the period around 1330-40 is attributed to the Waltensburger champion. The crucifixion of Christ is the center of the tympanum, to the left there is the rare motif of a Marie fainting. The frescoes are preserved only in fragments in the upper quarter and to see there only as a preliminary sketch. The cycle of paintings at the lower left edge of the tympanum is made less complicated and probably comes from the Rhäzünser master ( turn of the 15th century). The fragment about a world court, comes from nachreformatorischer time ( 16-17. Century).

Ceiling decoration of the 17th century

The painted ceilings of the aisles are from the 17th century. The Ostjoche were created in the first third of the 17th century in graceful style of the early Renaissance, the Flugi Chapel in the south west bay is equipped in the style of the Italian Baroque. The two middle Seitenschiffjoche received their ceiling decoration in the last quarter of the 17th century, probably by Johann Christoph Guserer († 1707).

Organs

The Chur Cathedral has two organs, both of which were built in the year 2007 by two Swiss workshops.

Main organ

At first glance, the main organ stands out for its special architectural design. Your body consists of two towers that are directly on the floor of the nave. In the reversal of the conventional principle, the gallery is supported here by the organ. The magnificent west window of the Cathedral remains completely free. About one- third of the 3244 pipes are from the original Goll Organ of 1887. At the sound characteristics of this material, the new instrument was developed by the Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd constructed. The organ is housed in a housing made of dark-stained Elsbeerbaum. It has a total height of 11.63 meters and a total weight of 15.2 tons (without gallery). The instrument has 41 stops ( to get 2 transmissions ) on 3 manuals and pedal. The Spieltrakturen are mechanical, the Registertrakturen are fitted as double stop. The large organ was donated during the recent Kathedralrenovierung by EMS- Chemie AG.

• Couplers: II / I, III / I (also known as Superoktavkoppel ), III / II, I / P, II / P III / P (also known as Superoktavkoppel )
• Accessories: Crescendotritt with two programs, combination system, USB interface

Choir organ

The choir organ is located on the south wall in the high choir of the cathedral. Your modern designed brochure stands out strongly from the historical background and sets in its objectivity an accent on the musical inner life of the instrument, which was newly built by the Spaeth Organ Builders Ltd ( Rapperswil ). The eight distributed over two manuals and pedal organ register convey thanks to two of deductions and a transmission the impression of an eleven- register organ. They are decorated baroque and form in their ideal sound a counterpoint to the main organ. The tracker action are mechanical. The instrument is equipped with a tremulants which acts on the entire work. The instrument includes 624 pipes.

• Couplers: II / I, I / P, II / P

Bells

Today's bells date from the years 1821 and 1977.

Altarpieces

Several valuable, painted on wood altarpieces ( late-medieval Saint - representations ) were stolen in the night of 6 to 7 October in 1993 from the Cathedral, the burglars damaged while other art works. After more than four years of international manhunt Carabinieri presented at Easter 1998, the stolen goods in the Emilia- Romagna safe.