Journey along the Rhine (VI) - The lesser-known town 'Speyer'

Speyer is a quiet town located upstream of the Rhine, with a population of just over 50,000. Although the town is small, it has a very long history. Five thousand years ago, when the whole of Europe was still mainly nomadic, this was the first settlement mainly engaged in agriculture. In 346 AD, Speyer became a bishopric for the first time, and two centuries later, it had its first local Christian church and monastery. In the mid-sixteenth century, Speyer became a turning point in German history. Since Luther defended himself at the Diet of Worms in 1521 against Emperor Charles V and the Pope, a wave of religious reform swept across the European continent. The Imperial Diet was held in the Speyer Cathedral in 1526, and again in 1529, which laid the foundation for the Protestant Church. Speyer has many well-preserved ancient buildings. In 2021, the entire town was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in the 'World Heritage List'. The Speyer Cathedral (also known as the 'Speyer Imperial Cathedral' - Kaiserdom zu Speyer) is located on the banks of the Rhine. It was built in the eleventh century and is the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Speyer. This red sandstone building is the soul of the city of Speyer and the ancestor of all German Romanesque churches. It is the burial place of eight German kings and four queens. After the destruction of the Cluny Monastery in France, the Speyer Cathedral became the largest Romanesque church in the world. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1981. As the journey draws to a close, the travellers have become familiar with each other and interactions are frequent. Some active and humorous travellers jokingly refer to touring Europe as 'Kung Pao Chicken', which stands for: palaces, castles, churches, and town halls. Quite fitting! In Speyer, the towering church displays a unique religious culture. The integration of modern lifestyle and technology adds charm to this small town with a history of over 2000 years. Preparations for Christmas decorations are now in full swing.