Today in History: Fire in Mainz Cathedral

On this day (August 29) in 1009 Mainz Cathedral was inaugurated. Unfortunately a fire broke out in the cathedral on the very same day causing extensive damage. It wasn’t until 1037 that the main portions of the cathedral were finished. Lengthy construction times were common for medieval cathedrals often taking more than a generation to build. Part of the problem was the incredible cost of these buildings and part was doubtless the technology which contemporaries had at their disposal to aid in the construction.