Paris1972-Versailles2003

We have driven in the area and would like to have an imprint in my blog on the wonderful towns of my belle France, There is so much to see , doing my best, and glad found me these older cd rom pictures which now transposing in my blog for you and me, memories are forever, Therefore, here is my take the Cathédrale Saint Etienne of Limoges !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The city of Limoges is in the department of Haute-Vienne no 87, of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region of my belle France, It was the capital of the historic province of Limousin, and capital of the old administrative region of the same name before 2016. It is located 142 km from Clermont-Ferrand , 346 km from Paris, 88 km from Angoulême, 130 km from Poitiers, 181 km from Bordeaux, 248 km from Toulouse, 387 km from Versailles and 448 km from my current home.

On the Cathédrale Saint Etienne ,the square -based bell tower, off -center to the north, signs the Romanesque origin of the building. It is from the 11C, contemporary with the construction of the initial nave main entrance to the cathedral, the Porte de Saint-Jean portal built between 1516 and 1530 at the northern end of the entered transept to include the old Saint-Martial oratory. It is considered, with the rudder who is contemporary to it, as a remarkable work of flamboyant Gothic. It opens today on Place Saint-Étienne, it once overlooked the former Saint-Jean church to which he owes its name. Three monumental doors allow you to enter the nave. The interior dimensions are about 82 meters in length, and from the bottom of the nave to the bedside, for the nave alone 73 meters; The height of the nave, like that of the choir is 24 meters for a width with the collaterals of approximately 22 meters the rudion, a high quality rebirth work, from 1533 and 1534, according to the dates representing the monument, the bays of the choir, the tall windows of the transept with its rosettes, the bays of the chapels of the nave and those of the narthex were brought up by the master glassmakers of ancient elements, mainly of the 14C, but also 15C and 16C, were restored and then integrated with 19C mirrors for the restoration and reconstruction of stained glass.

Twenty chapels are distributed in the periphery of the nave and around the ambulatory of the choir ,one is the Chapelle Sainte-Valérie on the transept corresponds to the former Saint-Martial oratory The ambulatory and the chapels of the Absidioles bear the remains of medieval paintings of the 14C, the Life of the Virgin and the legend of Saint Catherine in the Chapelle Saint-Léonard , and in the Chapelle Sainte-Germaine, the appearance of Christ to Marie-Madeleine and some remains of a Christological cycle where we recognize the Nativity and Calvary a frieze of the 14C of musicians adorned the vaults of the choir, but the majority of monumental paintings are from the 19C. The Chapelle de la Vierge was decorated in 1859, the treasure was exhibited in a window of the sacristy, Chapelle du déambulatoire closest to the southern arm of the transept. The best known pieces are two altar cannons, Three monumental tombs are arranged between the ambulatory and the choir, The latest archaeological studies confirm the construction of the crypt at the start of the Romanesque site in 1010-1014, The great neoclassical organ Danion-Gonzalez is Inaugurated on December 13, 1963 , and replaced the great organ of Ducroquet installed in 1842 of which only the buffet remained above the jube, The DuCroquet choir organ dates from 1850.

The Cathédrale Saint-Étienne is the main church of Limoges and the headquarters of the bishopric of Limoges. The only religious monument in Limousin that is built in homogeneous Gothic style despite a cathedral that ranged from the 11C to the 19C, It was built in an agglomeration which was to become the city, the city of the bishop against the town of the Château du Viscount and the Abbey Saint-Martial, its origin is probably Paleochrétienne. The Romanesque cathedral is built around 1013 on the initiative of Hilduin or Alduin, bishop of Limoges, it is devoted by Pope Urbain II in 1095. remain visible from the construction of this time the first three levels of the bell tower-porch and the Crypt under the choir , From 1246 to 1272, rebuild the cathedral in greater and in the new Gothic style, the construction begins with an ambulatory bedside in the characteristic style of the radiant Gothic of the 13C, it is larger and extends In the south and east of the old Roman choir and relies on the transept and the nave of the old cathedral. This latest work, took place between 1273 and 1320, Then, again, in seven to eight construction campaigns, between 1516 and 1541, building the Porte de Saint-Jean portal, Limousin masterpiece of flamboyant Gothic, forming the end of the northern arm of the transept. It makes it possible to include the Chapelle Sainte Valérie, an old Saint-Martial oratory, in the enclosure of the cathedral and opens onto the Saint-Jean church, built in the 13C and destroyed in 1791 during the French revolution; This church had taken the place and the baptismal function of the paleochrétian baptistery dismantled at the time of its construction, The jube closing the choir; was built between 1533 and 1534 according to the dates engraved on the front, On June 30, 1571, lightning hits the wooden arrow and the fire spread to the belfry; The eleven bells melted under the effect of heat. The bells are overhauled, and five were reinstalled in 1575, The 19C showed its interest to study, restore and complete the cathedral terraces and balustrade of the bedside as well as work inside the building took place from 1847 to 1852, The work of the cathedral resumed in 1876 and is inaugurated on August 12, 1888.

The city of Limoges on its heritage: https://www.limoges.fr/musees-et-patrimoine

The official Cathédrale Saint Etienne of Limoges: https://www.cathedrale-limoges.fr/plan-historique.html

The Limoges tourist office on the Cathedral: https://www.destination-limoges.com/en/culture/cathedrale-saint-etienne/

There you go folks, a dandy area to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my belle France, driving all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on the Cathédrale Saint Etienne of Limoges as I.

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