St. Vlasius Cathedral

The Cathedral of St. Vlasius, located in the German city of Braunschweig, was founded by order of the Duke of Bavarian and Saxon Henry the Lion in 1173 on the site of an ancient wooden church. The church was intended for the burial of the Duke and his wife Matilda of England, Richard’s sister, the Lionheart. In 1226, the cathedral, built in the Gothic style of gray stone with characteristic islander turrets, high windows and strict lines, was consecrated in honor of Saint Vlasius and John the Baptist. The interior of the cathedral is strict. Medieval frescoes have been preserved on the walls, an ancient stained glass window above the altar depicting the crucified Christ is noteworthy.

In the XV – XVI centuries, the Lutheran Church became known as a cathedral due to its belonging to the monastery. In the main crypt of the church are buried representatives of the Braunschweig line of Welfs, including Heinrich Dev himself, his wife Matilda, the wife of King George IV of Great Britain Carolina of Brunswick. Representatives of the family were buried here until the beginning of the XX century.