The Cathédrale Notre Dame de Bayeux , interiors !!!

Posted in Europe, France

I have come back in my road warrior trails of my belle France and Normandy is tops ; see my many posts on it in my blog, I needed to be back and did in grand style me think. Nice experiences which had made us come back again to historically and architecturally stunning Bayeux, From Pluvigner to Parking Québec-Orangerie place de Québec Bayeux We got on the D768 then the N24 to A84/E3 en direction de D53 à Souleuvre en Bocage. Prendre la sortie 41 et quitter A84 Suivre D53, D9 et D67 en direction de Pl. de Québec ,total of 3h20 and 303 km, and hit the cathedral first, Therefore, let me tell you about the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Bayeux , interiors !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

The Notre Dame Cathedral, narthex has two bays: the first is occupied by twin blind arcades, the second by an organ gallery. The nave has two levels: the large Romanesque arcades of the lower level date from the 12C, while the upper level, in Gothic style, dates from the 13C. The large arcades are surmounted by the single Gothic floor, designed by the architect in the mid-13C. It is separated from the Romanesque level by a quatrefoil frieze characteristic of Norman Gothic art. On the left side of the nave, we can see the gallery of the medieval organ, destroyed in the 16C.



On the left side, note the pulpit dating from 1786.  

Dating from the 1220s-1240s, the choir derives from that of the Abbey of Saint-Étienne in Caen (see post). It comprises three levels with four bays opening onto a roundabout: that of the large arcades, that of the triforium, which corresponds to a highly decorated circulation gallery, and the level of the high windows. Among the features depicted are Adam and Eve, the Annunciation, two bishops subduing a wolf and a dragon, probably Saint Loup and Saint Vigor, a woman and a man grappling with monsters, probably allegories of temptation. The vaults are decorated with medieval paintings depicting the first bishops. The splendid goldwork decoration, the cross, and the six gilded bronze candlesticks. The stalls date from the 16C. Reclining lions are installed at the end of each row of low stalls. Their current layout dates back to 1861; its woodwork reproduces the Renaissance motifs of the stalls. The side railings date from 1682 and those of the roundabout from 1772.

The Salle de Trésor or Treasury Room contains some remarkable works. It contained 355 objects according to the inventory carried out in 1476. Ground floor: It served as a sacristy until 1902. It notably contains the remains of polychrome statues from the 15C as well as a curious wig cabinet. Upper floor: It has always served as a treasury. It includes the magnificent great wardrobe, which for many years was thought to be used to house relics, from the 13C which served as a safe in the Middle Ages, the chasuble of Saint Regnobert (12-13C), an ivory casket, intended to contain it (of Arab origin) from the 11C.

The crypt dates from the 11C, therefore from the first construction of the cathedral. The pillars have capitals decorated with acanthus leaves. The crypt also contains two historiated capitals from the 11C discovered during restoration work. During the construction of the Gothic choir in the 13C, the Romanesque crypt was walled up. For a century, it fell into oblivion. It was rediscovered and reopened in 1412, on the occasion of the burial of the Bishop of Bayeux, Jean de Boissey. A large bay was pierced on the south side, under which the base of his tomb and his epitaph remain. The decorations, such as the frescoes of the musician angels above the capitals of the pillars, date from the 15C, shortly after, it seems, this reopening. On the north wall is the tomb containing the decapitated recumbent figure of Gervais de Larchamp, canon of Goupillères in 1405.

The tribune organ. The case was rebuilt and enlarged by Le Breton de Caen from 1845 to 1848, reusing elements of the 1597 case. Further modifications were made in 1862 by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, whose organ, restored by Renaud-Ménoret from 1996 to 1998, is the one we see today. The choir organ. Built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in 1861, the case was designed by Michel Liénard. The organ chamber is Neoclassical, and the upper part is Baroque. The lampshade is formed by a cloud sheltering stucco cherubs, surmounted by a globe bearing an allegory of religion brandishing a cross.

The official Diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux on the Cathedral : https://bayeuxlisieux.catholique.fr/paroisses/notre-dame-du-bessin/patrimoine/eglises-lieux-de-culte-a-bayeux/

The City of Bayeux on the ND Cathedral : https://www.bayeux.fr/fr/decouvrir-bayeux/cathedrale-notre-dame

The official Friends of the Notre Dame Cathedral : https://www.cathedraledebayeux.fr/la-cathedrale

The local Bayeux Bessin tourist office on the Cathedral : https://bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com/en/visits/monuments/bayeux/cathedrale-de-bayeux

There you go folks, another dandy in beautiful Normandie, and my belle France,never enough time to see it all, This is a memorable spots that should be visited more, me think. Glad to be back, we had a great time indeed ! Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Bayeux, interiors !!! as I

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

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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