Open guided tours of the Minster are offered every 1st Saturday of the month.
History
Predecessor buildings:The cathedral had three predecessor buildings. The first was the parish church from 1275, which was destroyed by fire in 1693. The second, built in the same year, fell victim to the negligence of passing troops during the Napoleonic Wars in 1796. A third church was quickly built, but this did not match the size of the parish and was replaced in 1897 by the present Minster.
Construction 1897-1902: Construction of the cathedral began on 1 September 1897 and the foundation stone was laid on 5 June of the same year. Construction management was the responsibility of the Freiburg building authority with construction and planning manager Max Meckel and foreman Johann Happle. As the Neustadt team also worked at night, the roof truss was already in place by 1900. Several thousand gold marks were donated for the two extremely valuable Gothic altars. By December, the church was completely roofed and plastered white. The parish priest Hermann Rinkenburger had collected ideas for his project while travelling. Construction of the 64 metre high tower was completed the following year. The keystone was laid on 30 July 1901. In 1907, Bishop Friedrich Justus Knecht solemnly consecrated the building. The cathedral building cost 650,000 gold marks, i.e. approx. 11,700,000 euros.
The bells:
In 1902, the cathedral received six bells from the Grüninger bell foundry in Villingen. In 1942, they were melted down to make weapons. They were to be taken down for melting during the First World War, but were saved from destruction by the parish priest Hermann Rinkenburger.
The building:
With its 68 metre high tower, Neustadt Minster towers above the other buildings in the town. Like the entire church, it is made of red coloured sandstone and is plastered white. The buttresses on the choir have been left unplastered. The windows are from 1904 and were painted in the late Gothic style. They lend the typical flair of late Gothic churches. Due to its massive construction, the church was given the name ‘Minster’ after its completion, although it is a parish church.