The Speyer cathedral is a very large and imposing basilica of red sandstone. Its official name is Mariendom (Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Steven) but more often called Kaiserdom zu Speyer (Imperial Cathedral of Speyer). Along with the Abby of Cluny, in ruins, it remains the largest Romanesque church. In 1981, the cathedral was added to the UNESCO whs.
It was built at the instigation of emperor Conrad II in 1030–1061 choosing it as his last resting place. Later on, it also held the honour for serving as the burial site of 7 more German emperors, kings as well as some of their wives and a number of bishops. The graves of the emperors and kings were originally placed in the central aisle in front of the altar.