St. Martin

A Romanesque predecessor, a three-aisled basilica, stood on the site of the current nave. From 1421, the citizens of Amberg began constructing the present St. Martin's Church in the late Gothic style, as a three-aisled hall church with a common roof. The church, which is 72 meters long and 27.8 meters wide, was surrounded by 19 chapels connected by a gallery. Its almost 92-meter-high tower is publicly accessible. The architectural style of St. Martin served as a model for numerous churches in the Saxon mining region, including Freiberg Cathedral. In the course of the Reformation, Protestant services were held from 1544. In 1557, Calvinists carried out an iconoclastic purge, removing side altars and artworks. Later, the church was completely cleared, and frescoes were destroyed. Following the Counter-Reformation, the church received a new Baroque high altar with a painting by Gaspar de Crayer. From 1628, the church was Baroque-styled. After damage from shelling in 1703 during the War of the Spanish Succession, which also destroyed the old stained-glass windows, the church received a valuable Baroque interior. In 1720, the tower was rebuilt after severe damage and given its current form. Between 1869 and 1879, the church underwent a re-Gothicization, which also included the installation of the west gallery. The current stained-glass windows and neo-Gothic furnishings date from a restoration in the late 19th century. A comprehensive renovation has been underway since 2003, including the roof truss, roof, foundation, and tower. From 2020 to 2024, the exterior renovation will continue, involving work on the natural stone facade, stained-glass windows, and electrical installations. The church's roof truss is unique for its time, featuring a self-supporting construction of solid timber beams almost 28 meters long, spanning from outer wall to outer wall.

St. Martin's Cathedral is located in the city of Amberg in Bavaria, Germany.

St. Martin's Basilica is today a Catholic parish church. In 1980, Pope John Paul II elevated it to a Basilica minor. The organ was built in 1968 by E. F. Walcker and expanded in 1973 with a bombard division. A choir organ is currently being planned. The basilica possesses nine valuable bronze bells dating from the 14th to the 19th century. The oldest bell, the Elferin, was cast in 1318. In the upper belfry are the fire bell and the poor sinner's bell, which was rung during executions.

• Altes Pfalzgrafenschloß (Castle, approx. 88 m away)
• Palais Blumenthal (Residence, approx. 91 m away)
• Alte Veste Amberg (Castle, approx. 105 m away)
• Palais Frank (Residence, approx. 136 m away)