Langres Cathedral

The Cathedral of Langres ( Cathédrale Saint- Mammès de Langres ) is the episcopal church of the diocese of Langres Langres, Haute -Marne, France. The three-aisled basilica with a transept was built in the years 1150-1196 in the Burgundian Romanesque style and completed in early Gothic forms. The classical facade dates from the 18th century.

History and Architecture

Around 1140 preconceived bishop and cathedral chapter of Langres the decision to replace the too small and dilapidated old cathedral by a prestigious new building. Served as an architectural model - reduced in the proportions - the Abbey of Cluny.

The construction began around 1150 in the East with its Romanesque choir. By a bull of Pope Alexander III. is documented that even twenty years later, a large part of the nave was built. After an interruption of the work began in 1190 with the acquisition of the western building site the completion of the cathedral. 1196 the Church was consecrated. The Gothic ribbed vault were probably not completed until then.

A large increase in importance, who moved further construction by itself, the cathedral gained in 1209, at the time of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, Opel, by acquiring the skull relic of St. Mamas ( Saint Mammès ), which now also became patron of the cathedral.

In the following decades the cloister, of the two wings are obtained, and the Lady Chapel in the apse apex arose. The 14th century added the chapels added in the choir. Around the middle of the 16th century, the Holy Cross Chapel at the north aisle was added.

After 1746 the south tower had to be demolished due to disrepair, began in 1761 the construction of the present west facade in Louis XVI style, which was completed in 1768.

During the French Revolution, the cathedral in December 1790, closed, opened the following year, but by the use of the constitutional bishop Hubert -Antoine Wandelaincourt again. 1792 rood screen was removed.

In 1852, a thorough renovation was carried out mainly the upper parts of the cathedral.

Equipment

The equipment of the cathedral is sparse. Noteworthy are two tapestries in the transept. They come from a framework established in the 16th century eight-part series with scenes from the legend of St. Mamas. Precious reliquaries and liturgical vessels are located in the Cathedral Treasury.

Organ

The organ was rebuilt in 1972 by Haerpfer & Erman and has 53 stops on four manuals and pedal. The instrument goes back in part to an instrument that had been built in 1715 by the organ builder Jean Treuillot, and has been expanded over time. Since 1970, the organ is classified as a monument historique.