Albi Cathedral (Exterior)

 The exterior of Albi Cathedral -- the largest brick building in the world : Albi, FR

If you want to see something really impressive, travel down to the French city of Albi and visit its cathedral. Construction began in 1287 and continued for 200 years. Originally built as a fortress, the Cathedral of Albi -- formerly the Cathedral of St Celicia of Albi -- is the largest brick building in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Detail over the main entrance : Albi Cathedral : Albi, FR

Entrance : Albi Cathedral : Albi, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/2012

St. Vitus Cathedral

Main Portal : St. Vitus Cathedral : Prague, CZ

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I love a good cathedral. I enjoy photographing them, I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them, and I like their history. I confess, I know nothing about St. Vitus. I also have to say I was I was thoroughly underwhelmed by this cathedral. You have to pay to enter the main sanctuary and approach the altar area. I wasn't willing to do that, so as a result, I have only a few photos of Prague's most prominent landmark.

Mosaic : St. Vitus Cathedral : Prague, CZ

Stained Glass : St. Vitus Cathedral : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

St Paul's Cathedral Up Close

St. Paul's Cathedral : London, UK

Again, the weather wasn't great for photography. These are just basic pictures of the exterior of St. Paul's Cathedral. Nothing too exciting, but at least I can say I was there...

St. Paul's Detail : London, UK

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Domes of Tallinn

Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral : Old Town : Tallinn, EE

Iconic domes of the Russian Orthodox Church : Tallinn, EE

Given its proximity to and its long history with Russia, it's not surprising to see the iconic domes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Tallinn. Just a few pictures of the Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral in Old Town. Unfortunately, it was closed when we walked by, so we weren't able to see the interior.

Evening Light on the Nevsky Cathedral : Tallinn, EE

Same shot, different orientation : Tallinn, EE

Domes : Nevsky Cathedral : Tallinn, EE

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Private Tour, Part I

Death on the Astronomical Clock in Old Town : Prague, CZ

Beautiful Baroque interior at the Church of St. James : Prague, CZ

On Monday morning, we met up with Czech native and private tour guide, Dana Jungrova. These are just a few of the treasures of Prague she shared with us. From top to bottom: The astronomical clock on the town hall in Old Town Prague; the interior of the Church of St. James; the Wallenstein Palace and Gardens; and just a random street in the castle district.

Gardens at the Wallenstein Palace : Prague, CZ

Venetian-style passage over a street in the castle district : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Prague by Night, Part II

Gargoyle : St. Vitus Cathedral : Prague, CZ

Prague's largest cathedral is St. Vitus located inside the Prague Castle on the other side of the Charles Bridge. It's a Gothic cathedral and I would have liked to have seen the inside, but we ran out of time. I did, however, get a few good snaps at dusk.

Front facade of St. Vitus Cathedral : Prague, CZ

Backside of St. Vitus (please to forgive the blurriness...) : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Freiburger Münster

Portal Detail : Freiburger Münster : Freiburg im Briesgau, DE

Freiburg im Briesgau, Germany, features a beautiful cathedral in its old town (Altstadt) section. This is a photo of the front portal of the church, known as the Freiburger Münster. There was a service going on inside, so I don't have any interior shots.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

Münster Fugue

 Organ : Berner Münster : Bern, CH

The Berner Münster is home to another great organ. In 1726, this organ was commissioned for the Cathedral of Berne. In 1999, the organ was restored and expanded at a cost of Sfr 4 million (more than US$3 million at that time.) We were fortunate to hear the organ while we were there and I found this video of organist Diane Bish playing the Münster organ. To hear her play a toccata on this magnificent piece, go here. To see more pictures of this organ, go here.


Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Berner Münster

Gargoyles on the Berner Münster : Bern, CH

The Berner Münster, or Cathedral of Berne, is Switzerland's largest Gothic cathedral. Construction on the cathedral commenced in 1421 and was completed in 1893--a span of 472 years. Within 30 years of the founding of Bern (Swiss spelling), a chapel was built on the grounds where the current cathedral stands. Over the next five centuries, the building grew as the city grew. The church was originally Catholic, but as the years progressed switched to Protestant, which is what it is today. The cathedral's tower holds the largest bell in Switzerland: 10 tons in weight and 8 feet in diameter. The bell was cast in 1611. To hear the cathedral's seven bells, go here. To see more pictures of this edifice, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Catedral de la Almudena

Colorful ceilings and domes : Catedral de la Almudena : Madrid, ES

I love shooting churches and cathedrals and I've shot a lot of them as a photographer. From Notre Dame in Paris to the Abbey at Bellelay in Switzerland, from the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., to the Mormon Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, religious edifices fascinate me.

Contemporary stained glass : Catedral de la Almudena : Madrid, ES

The Santa Iglesia Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena, though, has to be hands down the most beautiful cathedral I have ever photographed. I'll let the photos and the slideshow (see below) speak for themselves.

Filli : Catedral de la Almudena : Madrid, ES

Organ : Catedral de la Almudena : Madrid, ES

... Slideshow ...

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Stained Glass Reversal

Jesus in Reverse : Basler Münster : Basel, CH

This is the back of this stained glass. Pretty cool, huh?

Contemporary / Antiquated II

Beautiful frescoes : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

Another old/new feature in the Cathedral of Saint Nicolas are the old frescoes and the new stained glass. Here are a few examples of both. (Click to enlarge the last two pictures.)

Contemporary stained glass : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

Old and new, side-by-side : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Stringed Instruments and Organs...

Sing and dance, sayeth the Lord : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

Restoration work is currently ongoing on the organ in the Cathedral of Saint Nicolas, but artwork running along the organ loft was quite beautiful and had to be photographed. The passage is Psalm 150:4--"Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs."

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Contemporary / Antiquated

Old and new crucifixes : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

I loved the blending of old with new in this Gothic cathedral. In the case, it was a combination of a contemporary crucifix just below a trio of older crucifixes (is that the plural? Or is it crucifi? No, that's the action... Never mind... I'm sure I've just offended all of my Catholic friends. Mea culpa) that caught my eye.

A different angle...

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Devotion

A Moment... : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

A quiet moment in one of the chapels in the Cathedral of Saint Nicolas.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Lion Finial? Or Newel?

Newel or finial or what? : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

What do you call a carved lion at the end of a stair rail where the newel or a finial might reside? Well, regardless, this little guy caught my eye. He's guarding the staircase that leads to the pulpit in Saint Nicolas Cathedral in Fribourg.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Cathedral of Saint Nicolas

 Look up : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

Friends Scott and Diana rang up the other day and said, "Let's meet in Fribourg!" Having never been there and having nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon, a visit to Fribourg seemed perfect. Of course, I do love a cathedral and that's where Diana found us! This is the cover over the pulpit in this beautiful old church dedicated to Saint Nicolas.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Basler Münster (Interior)

Contemplative : Basler Münster : Basel, CH

Thursday's entry featured the Basler Münster from the outside. Today, I'm posting a photo from the inside. To see more pictures of this simple, formerly-Catholic-currently-Protestant cathedral, visit my Picasa Web Albums.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 3/10

Basler Münster (Exterior)

Transept roof of the Basler Münster : Basel, CH

The Basler Münster stands on a bluff overlooking the Rhine River and Kleinbasel. The original edifice was begun in 1019. An earthquake in 1356 leveled the city of Basel and severely damaged its main cathedral. Johannes Gmünd, who was building the Freiburg Münster in neighboring Germany, was employed to rebuild the Basler Münster. Both churches are constructed of red sandstone (I'll feature pictures of the Freiburg cathedral in a few days) and are built in the Romanesque architectural style.

You've seen this breezeway before, only from this perspective : 

Basler Münster : Basel, CH

On the day we visited, we climbed the stairs of the bell tower and enjoyed lovely views of Kleinbasel and Grossbasel, as well as the Rhine River and the foothills of Germany. To see more photos of the exterior and grounds of the Basler Münster, please visit my Picasa Web Albums. A photo of the west facade of the cathedral can be found in this album.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 3/10

Caption This...

Look lively, lads. The recruiters for Cirque Du Soleil are in town!

One last entry featuring Notre Dame and then we'll move on to other sites in Paris. Caption this week's photo, please.

Last week's photo caption winner is Maya, who wrote, "All those years of art education and this is the best job I could get?" The runner up was Cele, who suggested something about the painting and accessorizing the scarf the young lady was wearing. To see last week's photo and caption, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10