The Charm of Speyer, Germany

By Ann Parenti

The quaint German town of Speyer rests on the West Bank of the Rhine. The city is known for its Romanesque Imperial Cathedral, the burial place of eight emperors, including some of the most famous Holy Roman Emperors. At one time, Speyer was a major Celtic center that changed hands many times between the Romans and the Huns. The term Protestant originated here at the Diet of Speyer in 1529 when 14 free cities of Germany and six Lutheran princes protested the Edict of Worms that banned the writings of Martin Luther and labeled him a heretic and enemy of the state.

A “diet” was a formal assembly of electors, nobles, and representatives from various states within the Holy Roman Empire to negotiate and ratify laws.

Speyer’s Imperial Cathedral is one of the world’s finest and largest Romanesque cathedrals and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now, the city is a bustling, active community with a charm-like sense. It feels like you stepped inside a vintage postcard from another time when life was a bit less complicated and filled with bicycle rides and children playing in the park and laughing together.

Speyer will stay in my memory as a perfect weather day and a pleasant experience of making new friends and learning about a town with a tremendous history.