Lincoln Cathedral of the Virgin Mary is located in the small English city of Lincoln. The cathedral is the third largest temple in Great Britain and is a truly impressive building in its scale and magnificent decoration. An amazing creation of human hands majestically rises on a hill above the city. This is a must visit place on your trip to England.
History of the Cathedral
In ancient times, on the site where the cathedral now stands, there were protective fortresses of the ancient Romans. The very first basilica in the city of Lincoln in England was built under the direction of Bishop Paulinus. It stood for 200 years before being burnt down by the Vikings along with the rest of the city.
Some time later, a new Romanesque cathedral was erected. The temple was surrounded by a protective fortification, which made it look like an impregnable castle. Unfortunately, the cathedral was once again destroyed by fire. On its ruins in 1072 wasa new temple was erected, to which fate was also unfavorable: the ancient basilica was destroyed by a strong earthquake.
The monumental Lincoln Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, which we see today, was built under the direction of Bishop Hugo. The construction of the cathedral lasted over 100 years and was completed in 1290. Thanks to the 160-meter spire that towered above the surroundings, the basilica has long been considered the tallest building in the world and surpassed even the Egyptian pyramids in size. In the middle of the XVI century, the proud title of the tallest building was removed due to the fact that the tower collapsed under its own weight.
Building facade
Description of Lincoln Cathedral should begin with its facade. Before going inside, it is recommended to go around the building in a circle, enjoying the beauty of its design.
The architectural style of Lincoln Cathedral is the early English Gothic style.
The temple building is asymmetrical and differs in that the portals are placed quite randomly and are located in non-traditional places for structures of this kind.
The Western façade is of particular interest, resembling a horizontally elongated screen. The facade is not distinguished by a large number of sculptures; carved ornaments, the main part of which are geometric, became its distinctive feature. In the depths of the central arch of the Western façade, you can see the Romanesque portal, richly decorated with sculptures and columns that complete the carved capitals.
The south facade is crowned with a rose window, whichIt is called the Bishop's Eye. On the north facade you can see a similar window called "The Eye of the Abbot".
"The Bishop's Eye" has stained glass windows that have survived to this day from the Middle Ages.
The eastern part of the temple is truly a masterpiece of English architecture, with elaborate openwork carvings and richly decorated protruding parts of the wall - striped buttresses.
Interior
The interior of St. Nicholas Cathedral stands out for its noble architectural forms. A special pride of the cathedral is the "Angelic Choir", made in the style of English Gothic. It is famous for its intricate architectural decoration. The choir is decorated with thirty monumental sculptures.
Inside the cathedral are rows of wooden benches, the backs of which are decorated with carvings depicting Roman soldiers. The attention of tourists is attracted by colored stained-glass windows on the windows through which light enters the temple. Guests of the cathedral, who were lucky enough to be inside on a sunny day, say that the beauty of the rays of the sun pouring through the stained-glass windows is simply breathtaking.
Sights of the Cathedral
A library is organized at the cathedral, which stores a large collection of medieval manuscripts. A great contribution to the development of the library was made by the English architect and mathematician Christopher Wren. He donated a large number of books and historical documents to the temple.
Being inside the temple, one cannot help but notice the magnificent organ,which was created during the Victorian era.
In Lincoln Cathedral you can visit the grave of Bishop Hugh of Lincoln, who after his death was canonized. A huge number of pilgrims from all over the UK come to his tomb every year.
Temple Legends
Of course, a medieval temple has its own secrets and legends. So, on the northern wall of the "Angelic Choir", if you look closely, you can see a small figurine of an imp. According to legend, in the middle of the white for Stan, he decided to let his children-imps go for a walk. The strongest wind picked up two imps and brought them to Lincoln. They were so amazed by the incredible grandeur of the cathedral that at first they were afraid to enter inside, but one of them could not resist the temptation to make a mess inside the temple.
The devil tripped the bishop, pushed the priest and prevented the church choir from singing with his howling. The disgrace was stopped by the angels who descended from heaven. With their gaze, they made the imp, frolicking under the arch of the temple, turn to stone. Today, visitors to Lincoln Cathedral can see the eternally frozen figurine of the unclean on the wall of the choir.
Opening hours and fees
Those who wish to admire the facade of the cathedral can do so at any time of the day or night. You can get inside from May to August from 10:00 to 18:00. From September to April - from 10:00 to 17:00. From October to March - from 10:00 to 16:00.
The cost of visiting the cathedral is $5.
A monumental building with luxurious finishes, incredible facades and breathtaking interiors is an essential part of any tour to England.
