Fréjus Cathedral

The Saint- Léonce cathedral located in the historical center of the southern French town of Fréjus in the Var. It is classified as a monument historique since 1862. The medieval Kathedralbezirk includes the church with the connected Baptistery, the provost house and the cloister.

The church was originally the seat of the Bishop of Fréjus. In 1957, the diocese of Frejus and Toulon were pooled. The Episcopal seat of the new diocese of Frejus -Toulon Toulon is today; Saint- Léonce has the rank of a co-cathedral.

Location of buildings

The Kathedralbau is located on the southeast side of the complex, west follows the narthex and the Baptistery. With the aisles, a cohesive unit provides a common south wall. North of the Baptistery of the house of the provost is the east adjoining cloister.

Cathedral

Tower

Above the entrance hall stands the towering tower, which was built in the 18th century in its present form, but also includes older components. He is at the bottom of a square, it follows up an octagonal tower with the sound holes for the bells. A pointed roof tent with yellow and green shingles closes the tower to the top.

Narthexportal

The south portal is originally from the first half of the 16th century. From the time when the lintel is obtained. It bears the date of April 1, 1530 and was created by Jacobus Durandi. The framework in the Flamboyant Gothic style is a replica.

Interior of the Cathedral

The interior consists of the connected vessels of two churches: Saint- Étienne in the north of the 11th and 12th centuries was the parish church of Fréjus. Notre Dame in the South was the Episcopal Church. It was first cultivated in the south wall of Saint- Étienne, later you have the ships open to each other. The concavity of the two churches and the wall piers are of a piece, dating from the late 12th to the early 13th century. The non-profiled, unadorned cross-ribbed vault develops a monumental effect.

A similar arrangement of two churches under one roof you can also Aix and in Apt.

Narthexportal in flamboyant style

Equipment

• A wooden crucifix from the 16th century.
• Two statues represent the bishops Barthélémy (1599-1637) and Pierre (1637-1654); they date from the 17th century.
• A painting of the Roman painter Camillo Salurno 1561 shows the Holy Family.
• The panel painting " Assumption " in 1551 is located in the choir.
• The wooden choir was given by Bishop Juvenal in 1441 in order, remodeled in the 18th century.
• In the nave of Saint -Etienne, a wood carved, gilded reredos by Jacobus Durandi of the 15th century. The five-axis polyptych dedicated to St. Margaret, which can be seen in the center of the artwork on her a crucifixion scene. The great figures left of the saints Anthony and Mary Magdalene, about smaller representations of a preaching group. Right are Michael and Catherine shown great about Raphael and St. John the Baptist. Links on the edge from bottom to top: Lorenz, a Bishop and Peter of Luxembourg. Right on the edge from bottom to top: Stephen, a Bishop and a Selbdrittdarstellung.

The history of the organ in the cathedral dates back to the year 1600. 1810 a new organ was inaugurated, which was built by the organ builder Borme - Gazel. In the years 1855-1857 a choir organ was commissioned, which was built by Aristide Cavaillé -Coll. The present instrument was built in the years 1962-1967 by the organ builder Gonzales, where material was used from the previous instrument. The organ was reorganized 1986-1991. She has 35 registers on three manuals and pedal. The tracker action are mechanical.

Baptistery

The Baptistery is an early Christian monument of the 5th century, an example of Merovingian art with oriental influences. It is the outside square in the basement, the first floor as the internal layout are polygonal. A shallow conical roof covers the building.

The interior of the ground floor is designed as an octagon. Niches with semi-circular apses form an arcade rotunda. The arcades are based on eight monolithic columns, six of which are spolia from older buildings. In the middle of the rotunda is the baptismal font. In the basement, the Tambour form converts to a hexadecagon. Between eight windows arcades eight equal blind niches are arranged.

Cloister

The cloister is part of the Capitou, the tract of the Cathedral Chapter. Capitou and cloister were created after the completion of the cathedral in the 13th century. The two-story corridor enclosing a rectangular courtyard. Its arches are slightly pointed and resting on twin columns of white marble. The Corinthian capitals show the key, the symbol of the bishop and the stylized lily, symbol of Charles I of Anjou. A coffered ceiling of pine wood originates from the 14th century and is richly painted from the Catalonia region.

View of the cloister

Ceiling paintings in the cloister

Swell

• Rolf Legler: Cote d' Azur - Dumont art travel guide - 8th edition, 1990, ISBN 3-7701-1152-4