Oh this is and always will be a sentimental city for me, my first in France really spent time in it. I am thrill to tell you it is my dear city of Meaux and a place never missed when around the area of Seine et Marne dept 77 of the Île de France region of my belle France. I have written several posts , but this is new text and pictures from this week trip. Therefore, let me tell you about my sentimental Meaux ,again, Always in my mind wherever I will be in our world!!!!
I have touch base with many of its monuments and attractions and even written posts on them, but these are new pictures on a new visit, again, this is my Meaux !!! Let me tell you again about the Cathédrale Saint Etienne de Meaux , part VI !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The construction of the St Stephens Cathedral, begun around 1170-1180, was only completed in 1530-1540 with the ringing of bells in the bell tower of the North tower. This very long construction period explains why the Meaux Cathedral presents a vast diversity of architectural styles. Indeed, between the start of the work and its end, Gothic architecture in France went through several phases which left tangible traces in the cathedral. This stylistic diversity is especially visible inside the cathedral. The passage of centuries had significantly ruined the exterior envelope of the cathedral and gigantic restoration work was necessary. During the restoration projects which began in the 1860s. Many architects took part,
The current Cathédrale Saint Etienne was built on the site of an old Romanesque cathedral. It is now impossible to date precisely the beginnings of the reconstruction of the cathedral, following the destruction of the archives of the bishopric in 1793-94 (during the French revolution). However, it can estimate that it began around 1175. The cathedral thus combines the different phases of Gothic, from the classical style of the end of the 12C to the flamboyant style of the 15C. The Saint Stephens Cathedral has dimensions of 85 meters on the interior. The height of the North tower: 60 meters, (against 69 for N.D.de Paris). The height under the vault of the nave: 31 meters.
For several years, even several centuries, the Cathédrale Saint-Etienne de Meaux has lived in the shadow of the impressive and prestigious Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. Nicknamed “little sister of Notre-Dame”, the Meaux cathedral has many similarities with that of Paris. The latter is original and therefore dates back to the construction of the building, between the beginning of the 12C and the 16C. To date, 2,500 pieces of wood make up the cathedral’s frame. The same tree as for Notre-Dame, the oak, was also chosen to support the roof of the monument. The wood, which was used to make the frame, was cut in the 13C, just a few years after that used for Notre-Dame. Of Paris. In fact, the two cathedrals were built almost at the same time. The construction of the Paris only began twelve years before the Meldoise (natives of Meaux), in 1163 and 1175 respectively. All these common points mean that the St Stephens Cathedral of Meaux is called the “little sister” of Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris.
The large western facade has three monumental portals. As in many other Romanesque or Gothic cathedrals, the central portal is dedicated to the Last Judgment. Its tympanum represents the resurrection of the dead and the image of Paradise and Hell. The tympanum of the left portal is dedicated to the life of Saint John the Baptist, the one on the right to the life of the Virgin Mary. The north tower of the cathedral, with a height of 60 meters is the only one to have been completed; the southern one, made of wood, had been built to temporarily house the bells. It was ultimately not dismantled and is referred to as the black tower. In the center of the facade is a large flamboyant rose window created in the second half of the 15C. On the south side, at the end of the transept, is the Saint-Étienne portal, also called the Merciers portal. Its tympanum represents the life of this saint, the first Christian martyr. To the north, the second portal of the transept is also dedicated to Saint Stephen. It is currently closed; it is in fact in the courtyard of the Episcopal City. A little further west, towards the apse, a door called “de Maugarni” opens onto the ambulatory of the cathedral choir.
The interior of the St Stephens’ Cathedral is remarkable for its luminosity and the delicacy of its sculpted ornamentation. One of the most important characteristics of the sanctuary, which is found nowhere else in another Gothic cathedral, is the height of the vaults of the aisles which reach more or less 15 meters, half that of the main nave. These being equipped with high bays, the light penetrates in abundance in the heart of the cathedral and thus reveals the color of the stone of Varreddes, used in the construction. The nave and the choir have 5 nerfs, as in ND de Paris. The central nave is bordered on either side by 2 aisles or collaterals. It is only at the level of the apse that the ambulatory is reduced to a single nerf in a semicircle, which follows the internal ambulatory of the rectangular part of the choir, the external part of the latter being replaced by the radiant chapels 5 in number. The reverses of the facades of the transept are particularly remarkable and of great beauty, especially in the southern transept. They are richly decorated and feature real fabrics or stone embroidery. They are partly inspired by N.D.de Paris, but the style here is more refined and the ornamentation is richer.
Its flamboyant tower in particular, of obvious whiteness, is impressive. This building is among the 51 most beautiful cathedrals in France. It is considered the most beautiful religious building in the entire Briard country. Its construction spans 400 years between 1175 and 1540. It highlights varied Gothic architectural styles: a majestic and elegant ensemble in Varreddes stone, three monumental portals, and the Black Tower, in wood which houses the bells. . We enter on the sides of the building, and it is the height that surprises: 31.50 meters at the crossing of the transept! In 1331, the wealthy merchant Jean Rose founded the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament on the south side of the nave, where his funeral slab still appears. Jacques Bénigne Bossuet also rests here, behind the iron grilles of the cathedral choir. There are also two monumental statues of the author of the Sermons, one, to the left of the entrance, and the other, from 1904, where he is represented as a preacher surmounting his eagle. The organ is also a real gem, built in 1627 by Valéran de Héman, the most skillful organ builder of his time. The renovation of the north tower has made it possible to rediscover, through the multiple sculptures, not always accessible to the eye, a fantastic medieval bestiary.
The crypt (11C) constitutes the only vestige of the pre-Gothic cathedral, with a section of wall undoubtedly belonging to the 10C apse. The cathedral was rebuilt in a style strongly influenced by the first Gothic buildings in the north-east of France. The elevation, much modified subsequently, was characterized by the presence of stands. The work began with the eastern parts and continued towards the west, with the construction of the transept and two bays of the nave in the first third of the 13C. The choir was therefore rebuilt in the radiant style ; the galleries disappeared, the bays of the chapels were enlarged, the choir thus became much brighter. In the last quarter of the 13C, work continued on the transept with the reconstruction of the facade of the south arm then that of the north arm, at the very beginning of the 14C. Then , the apse completed with two additional radiating chapels, construction of which began around 1317 . Finally, attention was paid to finishing the nave, following the royal authorization of 1335. But the work was interrupted by the Jacquerie of 1358. The construction site resumed towards the end of the 14C, but experienced a new interruption during the English occupation of 1422 to 1439. It was only in the second half of the 15C that it was completed, with the completion of the nave and the western facade. Side chapels were also added to the north of the nave founded in 1512. The work ended with the construction of the north tower of the facade, completed in the 1530s. The south tower remained unfinished.
The Catholic Diocese of Meaux on the Catedral: https://www.catho77.fr/le-diocese-de-meaux/la-cathedrale-de-meaux/
The local Meaux Marne Ourcq tourist office on the Cathédrale Saint Etienne : https://www.meaux-marne-ourcq.com/en/discover/travel-back-in-time/saint-etienne-cathedral-basilica/727346_cathedrale-basilique-saint-etienne/
The city of Meaux on the cathedral: https://www.ville-meaux.fr/ma-ville-et-actualites/tourisme/balade-a-meaux/la-cathedrale
There you go folks, always memorable moments that staye d with you no matter what, time does not diminished the sadness of not having my dear late wife Martine who introduce me to this historical city, Meaux. Also,a great inexpensive alternative to Disneyland only about 20 minutes away by car. Do see my other posts on Meaux. I will always remember Meaux, and Seine et Marne dept 77, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Cathédrale Saint Etienne de Meaux , part VI !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, andn many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 