Paris1972-Versailles2003

Again, for the story, It took me a while , worse when you have family about an hour from the city. But often said, living and visiting are two different things . When in the area stay with family and this time again,however, did it in reverse order, when to see Lille and its sights, (stay tune for posts), and then went to see family. Therefore, let me tell you about the Cathedral Notre Dame de la Treille of Lille !!!, part I Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral of Lille in the department of Nord 59 in the Hauts-de-France region of my belle France. In neo-Gothic style, it is located in the Old Lille district, on the site of the old castle mound. Raised in honor of the Virgin Mary under the name of Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille, the name of a miraculous statue which is the object of devotion particular to Lille since the 13C.

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral, at Place Gilleson whose construction began in 1854, according to the grandiose project of a large neo-Gothic cathedral, to be completed in a much more modest way in 1999, almost 150 years later, The cathedral since 2008, has hosted the Grand Organ of studio 104 of the Maison de la Radio, which is among the largest organs in France. Equipped with a 2,500 m2 crypt, it also hosts the contemporary sacred art center which presents works on the theme of the Passion. I have heard about it for a long time and finally here, it was inspiring a beautiful cathedral to come back again, eventually,

A bit of the story of this wonderfully beautiful Cathedral Notre Dame de la Treille In a square that seems too small for it, the cathedral is surprising. It surprises with its heterogeneous composition, between a powerful facade of refined modernism and a neo-Gothic bedside where gargoyles reign supreme.In this long tunnel of time where fashions pass, resources dwindle, issues are lost… But where a particular, incredible story is written… That of a cathedral which had so much difficulty seeing the light of day. And it is perhaps this tumultuous past that makes the last cathedral built in France in the 20C so endearing and remarkable… Because the immense central part, in translucent white marble and the sculpted portal, so monumental and so discreet at the same time, are two marvels of art and technicality. It took a century and a half for us to dare to say: there you have it, the Cathedral Notre Dame de la Treille is completed. Between wars, shortages of money, materials, generations and changing tastes… It took all this time and quite a bit of stubbornness all things considered for Notre Dame de la Treille to take its place among the great monuments of Lille. It’s a little miracle in itself…

In 1947, a temporary facade was installed. In 1991, work resumed to provide the Cathedral Notre-Dame de la Treille with a permanent facade. The metal architecture with a steel frame was made by Eiffage Métal (the Millau viaduct, etc ). A company originating in particular from the workshops founded by Gustave Eiffel himself. The result is a true technical and artistic feat: the central part, 30 meters high, is made up of 110 translucent white marble slabs. It is topped with a circular rose window 6.5 meters in diameter, representing the Resurrection. The interior of the cathedral is even more marked by the contrast of two worlds so diametrically opposed. Past the porch, we once again enter a flight of arches, stained glass windows, mosaics, gilding which take us back to the 19C. Eight chapels surround the nave. Behind the altar, stands the holy chapel which houses the statue of Notre Dame de la Treille. A copy, unfortunately, which replaces the original stolen in 1959. From 1270, a large annual procession honors Notre Dame de la Treille. The Church, in the 17C, officially recognized 54 miracles. It is in front of this statue that the victorious Louis XIV promise to respect the liberties of the Lillois ! Remember that the apparitions of Bernadette Soubirou were in February and July of 1858. In 1872, they transfered the statue of the Notre Dame de la Treille in the basilica still in construction. The cathedral received the benediction two years later by Pope Pius IX. Walking through the streets of Lille, you will find numerous niches housing a representation of the statue.

The organ is one of the great organs of France with a console of 102 stops. An organ, previously installed in one of the studios of the Maison de la radio. Ceded in 2007 to Notre-Dame de la Treille Cathedral, it will be blessed the following year. Don’t worry, with its 2,500 m2 surface area, it is the largest in Europe… Today it houses the Lille Center for Sacred Art. It notably houses the collection of Gilbert Delaine, a great art lover who counts among his works names like Warhol, Baselitz, Fontana, Combas, and Kijno, the creator of the rose window who was one of the first to have the idea of open this space to contemporary art. A place which recently reopened and which offers, in addition to the permanent collections, high-quality temporary exhibitions.

See the translucent marble veil in the image of Veronica’s veil. The North portal ,completed in 1934,is dedicated to Saint Joseph,the special protector of the Work. Facing north, it is the portal of prefiguration, the one dedicated to the Old Testament. The statue of Saint Joseph, carrying the child Jesus who gives his blessing while holding an open Bible, occupies the central pillar. On each side were erected the statues of the patriarchs, Melchizedek, Enosh, Adam, Abel, Noah and Aaron Inaugurated in 1938, the South portal is dedicated to Saint Eubert, the apostle of Lille and secondary patron of the city. It is the portal of the progress of the Christian faith in the region, the one dedicated to the New Testament. The statue of the saint , cut from a four-ton block, occupies the central pillar. On the sides, statues of other saints evangelizers of the region have been erected, Éleuthère de Tournai, Saint Quentin, Saint Piat, Saint Chrysole, Martin de Tours and Éloi de Noyon.

The radiating chapels each have an independent roof with four cut sides, very stretched in height. They are separated by two-level flying buttresses decorated with tabernacles erected on 2.15 meter long gargoyles on the upper level. In relation to the name of the chapels they crown, these are Saint Canute, Adele of Flanders and Peter the Hermit for the chapel of Saint Charles the Good, Saint Joachim, Mary sister of Saint Anne, Ruth mother of Obed for the chapel of Saint Anne, Saint Polycarp, Electa who receives the second epistle of John, Gaius who receives the third epistle of John for the chapel of Saint John, James of Arc, Isabella of Arc, Calixtus III for the chapel of Joan of Arc, The ridge of the axial chapel is surmounted by a large copper statue of the Archangel Gabriel, the one who came to announce to Mary that she would be the mother of God, measuring 3.30 meters from the feet to the tips of the wings.

Inaugurated in October 1913, the current chapter house was designed to be the sacristy of the chapter house which was ultimately not built. It is accessed through the only cloister wing that has been built, located at the level of the fourth right bay of the choir, at the height of the chapel of Saint Joseph. A true underground cathedral, the 2,500 m2 crypt which serves as the foundation of the entire building is one of the largest in Europe. Its oldest part, under the transept, the choir and its radiating chapels, is built of brick and white stone. Semi-buried, it is lit by small pointed arch windows. With a vault height of 5.2 meters under the choir and the apse chapel and 4.5 meters under the transept, the “neo-Gothic crypt” reproduces the configuration of the cathedral, partially,  Erected opposite the south portal in order to shelter the bells given to the church on the occasion of the solemn coronation of the miraculous statue, on June 21, 1874, the Saint-Nicolas campanile was built in haste, in bricks with a few stones on foundations barely a meter deep. 35 meters high, it has four levels, blind for the first,

The official Cathedral Notre Dame de la Treille : https://cathedralelille.fr/

The Lille tourist office on the Cathedral : https://en.lilletourism.com/historic-sites-and-monuments-lille/cathedral-notre-dame-de-la-treille.html

There you go folks, a dandy city of the Nord that is North of France. I was finally back to Lille and it was great with many family memories flashing but glad I did it now. Again, hope you enjoy the post on Cathedral Notre Dame de la Treille of Lille , part I as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!