Besançon Cathedral

The St. John's Cathedral Besançon (French Cathédrale Saint- Jean) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the French city of Besançon. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Besançon. It is dedicated to John the Baptist.

History

The cathedral is located near the foot of the Mont Saint- Étienne, below the citadel. On the east side of the Cathedral is the resultant in the 16th century gate Porte Rivotte that has two round towers and walkways from the 19th century. Is the Porte Noire, a provided with numerous sculptures of Roman triumphal arch dating from the 2nd century on the west side.

The written between the 11th and 13th century cathedral is a basilica with a wide nave and two narrow aisles. In the 18th century, especially in its western building were renewed after a landslide large parts. Also the tower is Baroque.

Choir

Sideview

Ground plan

Equipment

In the cathedral there are several valuable paintings like Mary with Saints and Donors Jean Carandolet of Fra Bartolommeo. In the cathedral is also an unfinished Pieta Alabaster Artist Conrat Meitner from the 16th century.

Astronomical clock

The clock tower houses an astronomical clock by Auguste -Lucien Vérité, which consists of thousands of moving parts and has several animated features.

Leaded glass windows

Floor mosaic

Astronomical clock

Organs

The cathedral houses two organs: the older choir organ was built in 1764 by organ builder Riepp. The instrument has 22 stops on two manuals and pedal mechanically, the game and Registertrakturen are. The main organ was built in 1987 by organ builder Danion - Gonzales. The abrasive loading instrument has 45 registers, four manuals and pedal. THe Spieltrakturen are mechanical, the Registertrakturen are electric.

In the cathedral are buried personalities

• William I (Burgundy ) ( 1020-1087 ), Count of Burgundy and Mâcon
• Nicolas de Perrenot Granvelle (1484-1550), lawyer and politician
• Antoine de Perrenot Granvelle (1517-1586), Cardinal and politician
• Louis William Valentine Dubourg (1766-1833), Archbishop of Besançon
• Charles -Henri -Joseph Binet (1869-1936), Archbishop of Besançon
• Maurice- Louis Dubourg (1878-1954), Archbishop of Besançon