Langres Cathedral

Langres Cathedral (

By the 18th century the Romanesque towers on the west front were in danger of collapse. The bell tower over transept was in such poor state that it had to be removed in 1782. In 1746, the west front also threatened to collapse, and the decision was taken to demolish it. It was rebuilt from 1761 to 1786 in the classical style by the architect Claude-Louis D'Aviler. The works were managed by the architect Jean-Antoine Caristie. Following the French Revolution, the cathedral was closed and was transformed for a time into a Temple of Reason, and then a storehouse for grain. It did not reopen for worship until 1800.[3]

19th and 21st century

Beginning in 1852, the upper parts of the cathedral were renovated by the architect Alphonse Durand. He systematically rebuilt the nave (1853–54), the sacristy (entirely rebuilt between 1857 and 1862), The roof was replaced in 1855, and the choir and apse were restored beginning in 1856. The transept was rebuilt beginning in 1860 and the west front beginning in 1860.

Beginning in 1999, the colourful tile roof of the nave and transept was replaced by new tiles organised in the same geometric design as the tiles installed by Durand in the 19th century.

Exterior

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  The west front
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  South side - transept (Center) and chevet (right)
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  The 18th-century fronton of the cathedral
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  The polychrome tile roof, a Burgundy speciality

The classical west front or facade was constructed between 1754 and 1768, when it appeared that the Romanesque towers were in danger of collapse. The columns on the facade have capitals of different styles at each level, rising from the Doric order the to Ionic order to the Corinthian order, a typical feature of the classical style. The tile roof of the cathedral is from a different tradition, that of the architecture of Burgundy. The flying buttresses that support the walls of the nave are largely hidden by walls of the adjoining cloister and chapel, but those of the hemispherical chevet at the east end are dramatically visible.^[2]

Interior

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  Plan of Langres Cathedral
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  Elevation of the choir
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  Walls of the nave
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  The nave looking east
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  Ambulatory at the east end

The interior is very spacious; 94 meters long, 43 meters long wide, with a height of 23 meters in the nave. It has three levels; very high galleries supported by massive pillars; a narrow gallery, or triforium, without windows; and the high windows of the upper level, reaching upward to the vaults. Corinthian columns rise from the pillars and pass between the windows to support the vaults. Bands of sculpture in vegetal motifs decorate the triforium.^[4]

At the east end, the round point of the choir is surrounded by eight Corinthian columns, forming broken arches and decorated with molding, The apse contains five small chapels; Around the apse are five chapels; only the center, or axis chapel, dates to the earliest Romanesque cathedral; the others were constructed in the 14th century.^[4]

The Chapel of the Holy Cross

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  Chapel of the Holy Cross
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  Caissons of the Ceiling of the Chapel of the Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Holy Cross was constructed on the north side of the cathedral between 1547 and 1549, funded by a donation from a chanoine of the cathedral, Jean de Amoncourt. It is considered a particularly accomplished example of

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  Bas-relief of a monster on the capital of a column
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  The Pulpit
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  The cathedral organ, originally in Morimond Abbey
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  Resurrection of Lazarus (16th century)
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  Bas relief, "The Procession" (16th century)
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  Sculpture of Saint Mammès
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  Faience tile floor of the Chapel of Saint Amoncourt (16th century)

A considerable portion of the decorative woodwork, as well as the church organ, was acquired at the beginning of the 19th century, following the destruction of Morimond Abbey during the French Revolution. Another exceptional element of decoration is the 16th century faience tile floor of the Chapel of Amoncourt, which designated an historic landmark

Notes and citations

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Bibliography

• Le Guide du Patrimoine en France (in French). Éditions du Patrimoine, Centre des Monuments Nationaux. 2002.
  ISBN 978-2-85822-760-0
  .
• Lours, Mathieu (2018). Dictionnaire des Cathédrales (in French). Éditions Jean-Paul Gisserot.
  ISBN 978-2755-807653
  .

• Fiche du ministère de la culture
• Cathédrale Saint-Mammès à Langres - patrimoine-histoire.fr
• Cathédrale Saint-Mammès de Langres at Structurae
• Galerie de photos de la cathédrale de Langres
• Cathédrale Saint-Mammès - Inventaire Général du Patrimoine Culturel
• Langres (Haute-Marne). Cathédrale Saint-Mammès (Archéologie médiévale Année 1990) - Persée
• Location
• Photos