Cahors Cathedral
The Saint- Étienne Cathedral is the main church of Cahors and the seat of the bishop. The cultural monument was classified as a monument historique in 1862 and declared a National Monument. Since 1998, it is awarded as part of world heritage by UNESCO " Camino de Santiago in France."
Description
Two large Pendentivkuppeln overhang the Romanesque nave. They form the most extraordinary example of this " aquitanisch " mentioned design: they have 16 meters in diameter and 32 meters height from close in, only the Hagia Sophia has an even higher church dome. The domes rest on six almost square pilasters with nearly 4 meters each side. The adjoining semi-circular choir has three chapels. North and south sides of the ship have ever Romanesque portal, especially the northern one is designed richly. With different types of stone color effects can be achieved, the tympanum shows the Ascension of Christ and Saint Étienne, the patron saint of the church. The Archivolts are decorated with hunting scenes. On the west side includes the construction from three towers in the center of the façade opens onto a large rosette.
The secco paintings in the western dome were of a native of Cahors, Pope John XXII. in 13-14. Century commissioned. Stylistically they are similar to the paintings in the Palais des Papes. Restoration work in the 19th century could only they will be saved, those who were already destroyed to a large extent after the entire interior of the church in the 18th century had been whitewashed in the eastern dome.
The Gothic cloister on the south side of the nave dates from the early 16th century. It was built to replace an older, Romanesque cloister and is richly decorated in flamboyant style. On its eastern side is the Chapel Saint- Gausbert closes, which is home to the church treasury.
History
The building must have been begun in the late 11th century, since the main altar 27 July 1119 of Pope Callistus II newly elected French (also Callistus II ) was inaugurated. As a principal authority shall be the Bishop Geraud de Cardaillac ( 1083-1112 ). He equipped the church with a relic brought from the Holy Land ( la Sainte Coiffe? ) And thus gave her a role as a station on the Via Podiensis, one of the French sections of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
This Saint- Étienne is next to the Cathedral Saint-Front in Périgueux one of the oldest domed buildings in the historical region of Aquitaine (including Quercy ). In the 13th century the rear of the original three domes collapsed and was not rebuilt. In its place was built from 1280 a Gothic choir. Simultaneously with the construction of the choir received a chunky west building set above the cathedral. It is an expression of the economic success of the city in the years of the episcopate of John XII. The old Romanesque main entrance was moved to the north side.
Another construction were the years after the Hundred Years' War, when, after 1480, the choir chapels and cloisters were built, as well as the chapter building and the Palace of the archdeacon were renovated in the style of the Italian Renaissance in the 16th century. The Archbishop's Palace from the 18th century was converted during the French Revolution in a prefecture.
Organ
The organ was built in 1714 by the organ builder Jean -Francois L' Epine. The instrument was revised several times and today has 41 stops on three manuals and pedal. The Spieltrakturen are mechanical, the Registertrakturen are electric.