Augsburg Cathedral (Dom St. Maria)
Augsburg's cathedral is one of Germany's oldest, with foundations stretching back to the 9th century and five Romanesque bronze doors that stop visitors cold. Step inside and you'll find the world's oldest figurative stained-glass windows, dating to around 1065 — still glowing amber and crimson above the nave.
Ancient Glass That Rewrites History
The five prophet windows — Jonah, Daniel, Hosea, Moses and David — are recognised as the earliest surviving figurative stained glass on the planet, predating Chartres by a century. Stand beneath them on a sunny morning and the light turns the stone floor into a patchwork of jewel colours.
The cathedral also houses a painting by Hans Holbein the Elder, a native Augsburger, tucked into one of the side altars. It's easy to walk past, but worth hunting down — the detail in the faces is extraordinary.
Bronze Doors and Roman Layers
The south portal's 11th-century bronze doors are cast with 35 relief panels depicting biblical scenes alongside fantastical beasts — a visual encyclopedia of medieval imagination. Scholars still debate which craftsmen produced them, which only adds to the mystery.
Beneath the cathedral lie Roman foundations you can glimpse through a glass floor panel near the entrance, a reminder that Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum) was a major Roman provincial capital. The layering of civilisations in one building is quietly mind-blowing.
More of Augsburg
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Augsburg →
