The imperial Cathedral of Speyer is one of the largest and most significant Romanesque edifices in Germany, an edifice of architectural harmony and formidable grandeur even today. In 1980 the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage program.
Although the cathedral is the town's pride and joy, Speyer also has a great deal more to offer. It has a distinctly Mediterranean feel and people often say with a smile that, after Speyer, the Palatinate turns into Italy. Not such a fanciful idea in fact, because the region does have a particularly mild climate and there is beautiful pink almond blossom in the spring. In the summer, gardens and courtyards are bathed in such warmth that figs and lemons grow. Visitors can also enjoy Palatinate wines and traditional regional dishes such as Saumagen (stuffed pork belly).
The people of Speyer are extremely proud of their town, their old quarter and their cathedral, just one of many fine buildings from a variety of eras providing a historical backdrop for the bustle of everyday life.
Speyer also has plenty to offer people with an interest in technology and special exhibitions. There are many outstanding displays at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate and the Museum of Technology, both of which are reflections of the same spirit in which the Salian emperors built their great cathedral.
