Dom zu Naumburg

Naumburg Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul is one of the most important cultural monuments of the European High Middle Ages. As an outstanding example of the transition from Late Romanesque to Early Gothic architecture, the cathedral was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. Its unique combination of architecture, sculpture, and stained glass makes it a masterpiece of medieval art and architecture and one of the major attractions along the “Romanesque Route”.Built in the first half of the thirteenth century, the cathedral is embedded in an exceptional architectural ensemble of medieval and early modern houses of the cathedral canons within the cathedral precinct, alongside elaborately designed town houses of the neighbouring civic centre. Of particular significance are the two medieval choir screens, which separate the choirs from the nave – a configuration unique in the world.At the heart of the World Heritage Site is the West Choir, completed around 1250, with its twelve life-size donor statues. Their extraordinary vitality, individuality, and lifelike quality continue to captivate visitors today. Among them, Margravine Uta occupies a special place. Her enigmatic beauty and compelling presence have made her one of the best-known figures of medieval sculpture. The West Choir Screen, with its impressive reliefs depicting the Passion of Christ, is likewise among the outstanding achievements of Early Gothic art in Europe.The West Choir and choir screen were created by a sculptor-architect from France and his workshop, known to art historians as the “Naumburg Master”. His artistic activity can be traced from north-western France through the Île-de-France, Champagne, and Picardy to Mainz, Naumburg, and Meissen. The master and his workshop thus exemplify the intense cultural and artistic exchange that was already shaping Europe in the Middle Ages.This volume explores Naumburg Cathedral as a unique total work of art, examining its architecture, sculpture, and furnishings within their historical and European context. Particular attention is devoted to the works of the Naumburg Master and to the fascinating donor statues, above all the celebrated figure of Uta. At the same time, the volume offers new perspectives on the history of the cathedral and its outstanding significance for European art in the thirteenth century.