Sion Cathedral

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Sion in the Swiss canton of Valais (French Notre Dame de Sion or Notre -Dame du Glarier ) is the bishop's church of the Roman Catholic diocese of Sion.

History

Towards the end of the 5th century the bishopric of Martigny ( Octodurum ) was moved to Sion. However, is not even the place known by a Bishop Sion Church before the 8th century. At the turn of the 9th century was the first building to today's point a Carolingian church, which was destroyed in 1010 by fire. After that, the Romanesque cathedral was built, which consisted of a few changes until the 15th century. The existing in the core until today bell tower was built around the turn of the 13th century. In the heyday of the secular power of the bishops of Sion were Burg and Basilica of Valeria seat of the cathedral chapter and representative meeting of the Prince-Bishopric. However, the Kathedralwürde remained at Notre -Dame du Glarier.

Several fires and acts of war in the late Middle Ages, the Romanesque building damaged so strong that the nave was 1450-1500 replaced by a Gothic, which essentially forms the present cathedral with its Romanesque tower. 1947/48, the choir was extended by two bays to the east.

Architecture and Facilities

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Sion is a three-aisled basilica with a transept geostete and elongated choir. The massive Romanesque tower with conical tip dominates the town.

In Portaltympanon a fresco is in the style of Northern Italian Trecento; it shows the Mother of God, surrounded by two holy bishops and benefactors. The most important piece of the interior, the late Gothic altar triptych, is the root of Jesse dar.