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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TypeCoin971793, post: 2983069, member: 78244&quot;]Of course, Strasbourg’s most-famous landmark is its Cathedral Notre Dame (Cathedral of Our Lady). It was begun in the 12th Century and completed in 1439, where the main tower made it the tallest building in the world (the tower is actually open to climb up and down; prepare for a workout and spiral staircase PTSD, though). Several of the adornments were removed from the cathedral during the 1790’s French Revolution to make it more “humble.” They were replaced with replicas in the 19th Century. Apparently there was a practice in the 18th and early 19th centuries to engrave your name and the date into your cathedral as some areas of the Strasbourg (and even the one in Metz) were just covered in period engravings. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Front view of the cathedral:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]734191[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Some of the carvings:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]734192[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The interior was gorgeous, especially the organ.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]734193[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Climbing up the tower:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]734194[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>One of the more-amazing sights in the cathedral was an offering pit. Yes, you heard me correctly. There was a grated pit where people tossed in money of various amounts, and there were THOUSANDS of Euros present. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]734195[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Here is a picture of one of the several 1000€ notes I spied.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]734196[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>A mint was established in Strasbourg in 1437. The coin I bought is one of the earlier coins from this mint, being minted from 1482 to sometime in the 16th century.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]734197[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]734198[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Some interesting historical factoids during the Renaissance period:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><ul> <li>Johannes Gutenberg invented (or, reinvented if you take into account Chinese technology) the printing press in Strasbourg around 1440.</li> </ul><p><br /></p><p>1496 printed book:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]734199[/ATTACH] </p><ul> <li>In 1518, the city was afflicted by a rather strange plague called the “dancing plague.” The 400 or so people that were afflicted would be manic and dance constantly for days or weeks on end. They would eventually die of exhaustion or heart failure.</li> <li>Lutheranism was extremely important in Strasbourg, and the number influential adherents and early printing abilities in Strasbourg contributed greatly to the establishment of protestantism as a dominant denomination in the region. The Strasbourg cathedral was taken over by the Lutherans, but it was taken back by the Catholics in 1685. Also, John Calvin spent a bit of time in Strasbourg as a refugee.</li> <li>The first modern newspaper was printed in Strasbourg in 1605</li> <li>Louis XIV annexed Strasbourg into France in 1681 by surrounding the city with his army and negotiating with the leaders of the city. The annexation was completely bloodless.</li> <li>The French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” was composed in Strasbourg in 1792</li> <li>Strasbourg was one of the last cities to remain loyal to Napoleon. In 1814, they produced a Un Decime coin with an “N” on it to show their support (if I read the plaque at the museum correctly). BB is the Strasbourg mintmark.</li> </ul><p>[ATTACH=full]734200[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>And that brings us to the modern era, which the ancients forum does not care as much about.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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