Essen Cathedral

Essen Cathedral, also known as the Münsterkirche, is a significant architectural landmark with an eventful history. Destroyed by fire on several occasions, it was always rebuilt. After secularization in 1803, it served as the parish church of the Münster parish. Severely damaged during World War II, it attained the status of a cathedral in 1958 with the establishment of the Diocese of Essen. The cathedral houses the Essen Cathedral Treasury, one of the most significant legacies of the Essen Convent. Of particular note are the Golden Madonna, the world’s oldest fully three-dimensional statue of the Virgin Mary, and the seven-branched candelabrum, the oldest of its kind in Christendom. Both works of art are central features of the cathedral. Above the portal of the Bishop’s Residence on Burgplatz stands the Golden Angel by Ewald Mataré, another significant work of art. Essen Cathedral is not only a place steeped in history but also a vibrant center of faith and art.