Wetzlar Cathedral

The origins of the cathedral date back to the 9th century, when a fortified farm presumably existed around 800, and a parish church emerged in the mid-9th century. In 897, a Salvator church was consecrated, built as a three-aisled basilica with apses and side chapels. The Marienstift (St. Mary's Collegiate Church) was founded at the beginning of the 10th century. Around 1170/80, a late Romanesque pillar basilica was erected. Construction of the current cathedral began around 1230 with the erection of a higher chancel and chapels. Between 1240 and 1275, the south facade, transept, and side aisle were completed, followed by the north transept and north side aisle after 1292. At the beginning of the 14th century, work on the nave was left unfinished. From 1336, construction began on the new west facade with two towers, with the south tower receiving three stories by 1485 and a spire roof around 1490. The north tower remained unfinished. The Reformation led to a contractual agreement in 1561 for the joint use of the church by Catholics and Lutherans, making the cathedral a simultaneum church. After a lightning strike in 1561, which destroyed the wooden spire of the south tower, it was replaced by a baroque dome. In the 20th century, the cathedral underwent several renovations, particularly after heavy damage in World War II, which was repaired by 1955. In 1978, the property rights of the two communities were clarified, who have jointly owned the cathedral ever since.

The Wetzlar Cathedral is located in Wetzlar in the Lahn-Dill district of Hesse, Germany, at an elevation of approximately 179 m above sea level.

Today, the Wetzlar Cathedral continues to serve as a church and is a simultaneum church, used jointly by Catholic and Protestant congregations. Its unfinished construction, featuring elements from Romanesque and Gothic periods, remains visible to this day.

• Deutschordenshof (Wetzlar) (manor house and estate), approx. 0.1 km away
• Kalsmunt Castle Ruin (Wetzlar) (ruin), approx. 0.9 km away
• Hermannstein Castle Ruin (ruin), approx. 2.7 km away
• Magdalenenhausen Manor House (Wetzlar) (manor house and estate), approx. 3.1 km away