La cathedrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais (Oisne)

English summary: Built at the instigation of Milon de Nanteuil (1217-1234), the cathedral of Beauvais – called the Haut-Oeuvre, as opposed to the Basse-Oeuvre built in the 10th century – was consecrated in 1272. A first collapse in 1284, and then a second in 1573 definitively curtailed the momentum of the builders. Deprived of a nave, of which one does not dare, in view of the elevation of the vaults (48 m, the highest Gothic vaults in Europe!), to imagine the length it would have reached, the building dominates with its silhouette – both slender and massive – an area gutted by the bombardments of 1940. However, they spared the Canonial Cloister and the Episcopal Palace, which now houses the Departmental Museum. Although the French Revolution deprived the cathedral of the statues that adorned its portal and of many elements of its interior decoration, it nevertheless preserves rich furnishings which deserve all the attention of the visitor. The superb medieval and Renaissance windows illuminate a sanctuary refurbished around 1750 by the sculptor Nicolas-Sebastien Adam. Each century has thus contributed to enriching Saint-Pierre de Beauvais and has left its mark, which this guide book invites you to discover. French description: Edifiee a l’instigation de Milon de Nanteuil (1217-1234), la cathedrale de Beauvais, le Haut-Oeuvre comme on l’appelait par opposition a la Basse-Oeuvre bytie au Xe siecle, fut consacre en 1272. Un premier effondrement en 1284, puis un second en 1573 entraverent definitivement l’elan des bytisseurs. Prive de nef, dont on n’ose, au vu de l’elevation des voutes (48 m, les plus hautes voutes gothiques d’Europe!), imaginer la longueur qu’elle eut atteinte, l’edifice domine de sa silhouette tout a la fois elancee et massive, un quartier mutile par les bombardements de 1940. Ceux-ci ont toutefois epargne le cloitre canonial et le palais episcopal, actuel Musee departemental. Si la Revolution a prive la cathedrale des statues qui ornaient son portail et de bien des elements de son decor interieur, celle-ci conserve neanmoins un riche mobilier qui merite toute l’attention du visiteur. Les superbes verrieres du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance eclairent un sanctuaire reamenage vers 1750 par le sculpteur Nicolas-Sebastien Adam. Chaque siecle a ainsi contribue a enrichir Saint-Pierre de Beauvais et y a laisse sa trace, que cet Itineraire vous invite a decouvrir.

English summary: Built at the instigation of Milon de Nanteuil (1217-1234), the cathedral of Beauvais – called the Haut-Oeuvre, as opposed to the Basse-Oeuvre built in the 10th century – was consecrated in 1272. A first collapse in 1284, and then a second in 1573 definitively curtailed the momentum of the builders. Deprived of a nave, of which one does not dare, in view of the elevation of the vaults (48 m, the highest Gothic vaults in Europe!), to imagine the length it would have reached, the building dominates with its silhouette – both slender and massive – an area gutted by the bombardments of 1940. However, they spared the Canonial Cloister and the Episcopal Palace, which now houses the Departmental Museum. Although the French Revolution deprived the cathedral of the statues that adorned its portal and of many elements of its interior decoration, it nevertheless preserves rich furnishings which deserve all the attention of the visitor. The superb medieval and Renaissance windows illuminate a sanctuary refurbished around 1750 by the sculptor Nicolas-Sebastien Adam. Each century has thus contributed to enriching Saint-Pierre de Beauvais and has left its mark, which this guide book invites you to discover. French description: Edifiee a l’instigation de Milon de Nanteuil (1217-1234), la cathedrale de Beauvais, le Haut-Oeuvre comme on l’appelait par opposition a la Basse-Oeuvre bytie au Xe siecle, fut consacre en 1272. Un premier effondrement en 1284, puis un second en 1573 entraverent definitivement l’elan des bytisseurs. Prive de nef, dont on n’ose, au vu de l’elevation des voutes (48 m, les plus hautes voutes gothiques d’Europe!), imaginer la longueur qu’elle eut atteinte, l’edifice domine de sa silhouette tout a la fois elancee et massive, un quartier mutile par les bombardements de 1940. Ceux-ci ont toutefois epargne le cloitre canonial et le palais episcopal, actuel Musee departemental. Si la Revolution a prive la cathedrale des statues qui ornaient son portail et de bien des elements de son decor interieur, celle-ci conserve neanmoins un riche mobilier qui merite toute l’attention du visiteur. Les superbes verrieres du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance eclairent un sanctuaire reamenage vers 1750 par le sculpteur Nicolas-Sebastien Adam. Chaque siecle a ainsi contribue a enrichir Saint-Pierre de Beauvais et y a laisse sa trace, que cet Itineraire vous invite a decouvrir.

• By (author) J Forstel
• By (author) A Magnien