MAINZ, GERMANY

ST. MARTIN'S CATHEDRAL IN MAINZ, GERMANY.    THIS 1000-YEAR OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IS LOCATED NEAR THE CENTER SQUARE OF THE CITY.   CONSTRUCTION BEGAN AS EARLY AS 991 BUT SEVERAL FIRES DESTROYED WHAT WAS BUILT AND FURTHER REPAIRS AND CONSTRUCTION WAS STARTED IN THE EARLY 12TH CENTURY.  RECONSTRUCTION CONTINUED ON AND OFF UP THROUGH THE EARLY 1800s.   IT SUFFERED A LOT OF DAMAGE DURING AUGUST 1942 BOMBINGS - MOSTLY TO THE ROOF STRUCTURE.  WORK ON RESTORATION FROM WORLD WAR II CONTINUED RIGHT UP TO THE 1970s.   THE CHURCH IS VERY LARGE AND I WOULD SAY IT SEEMS TO BE THE PRIDE AND JOY OF MAINZ.  

A CHAPEL LOCATED BELOW THE CHURCH

I LIKE THIS MORE CONTEMPORARY STAINED GLASS

THIS IS ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH IN MAINZ.   IT IS OF THE BAROQUE STYLE AND IT WAS BUILT IN 1768.  AS YOU CAN SEE IT IS ORNATELY DECORATED WHICH IS TYPICAL OF THE TIME PERIOD.   FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW CHURCH ORGANS, THE ONE IN THIS CHURCH WAS THE LAST ORGAN BUILT BY JOHANN HEINRICH STUMM IN 1773.  YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BALCONY.  AMAZINGLY THE CHURCH WAS SPARED MAJOR DAMAGE DURING WORLD WAR II.   THE PHOTOS CAME OUT A LITTLE BLURRY FOR SOME REASON.  I THINK THE CAMERA HAD A HARD TIME FOCUSING ON ALL THAT GOLD LEAFING!