The city of Speyer is one of the oldest cities in Germany and contains a beautiful Old Town. Among the highlights of Speyer is its cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site that celebrated its 950th anniversary in 2011. The cathedral, a basilica with four towers and two domes, was founded by Conrad II in 1030 and remodelled at the end of the 11th century. It is one of the most important Romanesque monuments from the time of the Holy Roman Empire.
The cathedral was the burial place of the German emperors for almost 300 years. It is the first known structure to be built with a gallery that encircles the whole building. The system of arcades added during these renovations was also a first in architectural history.