Strasbourg Cathedral's west façade, viewed

(Photo-Link)

Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg, Germany

Steeple Detail

"Strasbourg, a dual-cultured city  is perched on the border of France and Germany." (AC)

Front Double Door Entrance

Lower part of the West façade, (Caption-Link)

 "This Gothic beauty, situated at the centre of the city, is a mixture of filigree stonework and lacy spires, leering gargoyles and flying buttresses.  Victor Hugo said of this cathedral 'The true triumph of the cathedral is the spire.  It is a veritable tiara of stone with its crown and its cross.  It is a gigantic and delicate marvel.' " (Guide book.)              

Side Doors

"Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, German: Liebfrauenmünster zu Straßburg), also known as Strasbourg Minster, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely consideredto be among the finest examples of high, or late, Gothic architecture. Erwin von Steinbach is credited for major contributions from 1277 to his death in 1318.

Rose Window

"At 142 metres (466 feet), it was the world's tallest building from 1647 to 1874 (227 years), when it was surpassed by St. Nikolai's Church, Hamburg. Today it is the sixth-tallest church in the world and the highest extant structure built entirely in the Middle Ages.

Sanctuary  

(Photo-Link)

"Described by Victor Hugo as a "gigantic and delicate marvel",and by Goethe as a "sublimely towering, wide-spreading tree of God",the cathedral is visible far across the plains of Alsace and can be seen from as far off as the Vosges Mountains or the Black Forest on the other side of the Rhine. Sandstone from the Vosges used in construction gives the cathedral its characteristic pink hue." (Link)

Photos: Taken in August 2014 by friend Arne Carlson while on a Rhine
                 River Cruise.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strasbourg_Cathedral

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

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                  The cathedral from south                            (Photo-Link)
                  
 

Koler Dom,
Cologne, Germany

Twin Steeples

Exterior Detail

"Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) (Latin: Ecclesia Cathedralis Sanctorum Petri et Mariae, officially Hohe Domkirche St. Petrus, English: High Cathedral of St. Peter) is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site. It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 20,000 people a day.

The Crucifix of Bishop Gero, 10th century, the oldest known large crucifix 

(Caption-Link)

The five windows on the South side were given by Ludwig I of Bavaria. 
(Caption-Link)


Sanctuary Statues

"Construction of Cologne Cathedral commenced in 1248 and was halted in 1473, leaving it unfinished. Work restarted in the 19th century and was completed, to the original plan, in 1880. It is 144.5 metres (474 ft) long, 86.5 m (284 ft) wide and its towers are approximately 157 m (515 ft) tall. The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and has the second-tallest spires (after Ulm Minster. See info-box below.) Its two huge spires give it the largest façade of any church in the world. The choir has the largest height to width ratio, 3.6:1, of any medieval church. (Link.)

"In 1996, the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites. In 2004 it was placed on the "World Heritage in Danger" list, as the only Western site in danger, due to plans to construct a high-rise building nearby, which would have visually impacted the site. The cathedral was removed from the List of In Danger Sites in 2006, following the authorities' decision to limit the heights of buildings constructed near and around the cathedral.

"As a World Heritage Site, and with its convenient position on tourist routes, Cologne Cathedral is a major tourist attraction, the visitors including many who travel there as a Christian pilgrimage.

"Visitors can climb 509 stone steps of the spiral staircase to a viewing platform about 98 m (322 ft) above the ground. The platform gives a scenic view over the Rhine.

"On 18 August 2005, Pope Benedict XVI visited the cathedral during his apostolic visit to Germany, as part of World Youth Day 2005 festivities." (Link.)

Photos: Taken in August 2014 by friend Arne Carlson while on a Rhine River Cruise.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Cathedral

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

Evangelische Kirsche Alt-Weil

Evangelische Kirsche Alt-Weil

Weil am Rhein, Germany

"Weil am Rhein ( Alemannic Wiil on Rhii ) is a southern Baden city in the Federal Republic of Germany directly in the tri-border region with Switzerland and France . Along with their directly neighboring city of Lörrach it forms a regional center . After Lörrach and Rheinfelden (Baden) Weil am Rhein is the third largest city in the district of Lörrach . Since 1 January 1972 it is a large district ."(Link 2.)

Built in 1791

Evangelische Kirsche Alt-Weil

This small village church was built in 1791.  It features a clock tower and checkerboard patterned roof.  The clock numbers are Roman Numerals on a turquoise background.

Clock in Church Tower (Link 1.)

Front Doors (Link 1.)

Many church and community groups meet at Evangelische Kirsche Alt-Weil. These include: organ lessons, St. Citizen Club, Tots Metting, Bible Evening, Singkreis, Oldest Circle, Confirmation Lessons, and the Song Project.  Sunday Worship Services are help at 10:00 am.

Contact Information

Memorial Plaque

Photos: Taken in June 2014 by Richard Wilson while living and working in 

                 Basel, Switzerland.  His work also takes him across the border to small

                 towns in Germany.

Link 1: http://altweil.ekiweil.de/
Link 2: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weil_am_Rhein

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)