Cahors Cathedral
| Cathedral Saint-Etienne de Cahors | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Cathedral Saint-Etienne de Cahors | ||
| Contact | 44 26 '50 "North 1 26 '35 "East / 44.447222, 1.443056 | |
| Country |  France | |
| Region | Midi-Pyrenees | |
| Department | Lot | |
| City | Cahors | |
| Worship | Roman Catholic | |
| Type | Cathedral | |
| Attached to | Diocese of Cahors (headquarters) | |
| Construction begins | 1080 1316 (front) | |
| Work Completed | 1135 1324 (front) | |
| Style (s) dominating (s) | Novel Gothic ( cloister of 1504 ) | |
| Protection | Historic Monument ( 1862 ) | |
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The cathedral Romance of Cahors .
It houses the Santa cap that covered the head of Christ, referred to the Holy Land 1113.
Summary |
Description
An architectural jewel, it was built in the eleventh century by Bishop Gerald Cardaillac on the site of the old church built in the seventh century by Saint Didier. It was built and built through the generosity of Dagobert , by Bishop Gerald III to 1090. It was consecrated by Pope Callistus II on 10 September 1119 and was completed around 1135.
It is a fortress-like church austere military. Besides the bishops were not they also counts and barons of Cahors?
The facade added between 1316 and 1324 by William of Labroue , cousin of John XXII , reinforces this impression: heavy, like the wall of a castle, the narthex surmounted by a belfry framed by two towers, it is hardly ventilated by six narrow bays, a triple-arch gate surmounted by a gallery and a rose.
The interior is striking for the absence of a transept.
It belongs to the style dome southwest. With a fortified Romanesque facade, with the Romanesque portal, made between 1140 and 1150 , forms a front building on the north facade.
The nave
Well lit, it grows to 20 feet wide and forty-four meters long. Two powerful domes on pendants, Byzantine style, peaking at 32 meters, based on six strong pillars. Only Hagia Sophia in Constantinople exceeds the amplitude of the nave.
One of the domes are decorated with frescoes of the fourteenth century , representing the stoning of St. Stephen and eight prophets each mounted on an animal like the Greek gods or Hindu. Besides the mural , many elements of medieval paintings were uncovered on the walls of the building.
The apse
Gothic novel background, where you can see eight columns with carved capitals, has three apses decorated with sculptures. The whole forms a beautiful harmony of colors in which the whiteness of the nave contrasts with the color paintings and stained glass windows of the choir.
The church contains several effigies, including that of Alain de Solminihac and blessed in the chapel of the apse, a precious relic, the Holy cap that covered Christ's head and which was reported by Gerald Cardaillac , bishop of Cahors, in After a trip to the Holy Land 1113.
Portal
Sculpted in 1135, he transferred to the thirteenth century on the north facade. This portal arches is surmounted by a remarkable eardrum whose sculptures, reminiscent of Moissac are of a transitional style between Romanesque and Gothic. The theme is the triumphant ascension of Christ. Jesus, standing, right hand raised in blessing and goodbye, a Bible in his left hand, is surrounded by an oval glory (or mandorla) which underlines the upward movement. On either side of Christ, two angels appear to explain the miracle of the apostles who, under their lobed arches surround the Virgin.
At left, an isolated figure whose attitude and dress different from those of the apostles, is probably the sculptor who has made his work.
From either side of the angels, is told the story of St. Stephen, patron of the cathedral, as it appears in the Acts of the Apostles. Above the mandorla, four angels accompany Christ in his ascension.
The archivolt is decorated with characters very thin, very long and facing each other. They depict hunting scenes, the battle of the vices and virtues.
Also note, the arches carved corbels and cornice.
The cloister
A door on the right of the choir, provides access to the cloister Gothic Flamboyant which was built in 1504 by Bishop Anthony Luzech. The sculptures representing Coquillards profane, drinkers, musicians, architects at work, may have been copied from Cadouin.
You can see a square stone arguing two pilgrims, one holding a shell.
North-west, the small Virgin under his canopy of shells, is a rare religious images saved by Protestants.
On the west side, the chapel Holy Gaubert, whose roof is adorned with paintings of the Italian Renaissance and the walls, frescoes of the fifteenth century, depicting the hell and the Last Judgement , contains a museum of sacred art. Vestments and portraits of 93 bishops of Cahors are exposed .
References
- Mireille Bnjeam-Lre - The St. Stephen's Cathedral - pp.9-69 Archaeological Congress in France. 147 th Session. Quercy. 1989 - French Society of Archaeology - Paris - 1993
- List of classified sites: http://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/868/multiple=1&unique_number=1019
- Marie-Anne Sire - Cathedral of Cahors. The murals of the XIV century recently discovered in the mountain West - pp.71-77, Archaeological Congress in France. 147 th Session. Quercy. 1989 - French Society of Archaeology - Paris - 1993
- George Costa - The Treasure of the Cathedral of Cahors - pp.79-85, Archaeological Congress in France. 147 th Session. Quercy. 1989 - French Society of Archaeology - Paris - 1993
External Links
Bibliography
- Margarita Vidal, John Maury, Jean Porcher - Quercy novel - pp.195-234 - Zodiac Publishing (collection "time immemorial No. 10) - Pierre-qui-Vire - Issue 3 - 1979 ISBN 978-2736901431
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