The Cathédrale Saint Etienne of Saint Brieuc !!!

Posted in Bretagne, France

Again searching my road warrior soul I came to the North of Brittany and it was nice to see my lovely Bretagne is beautiful all over. I came into Saint Brieuc ,I have found me more pictures in my cd rom vault of its wonderful cathedral and they need to be in my blog for you and me, Therefore, here is my take again on the Cathédrale Saint Etienne of Saint Brieuc !!!  Hope you enjoy the post as I.

For info, Saint-Brieuc is in the Côtes-d’Armor dept 22 of my lovely Bretagne.and in my belle France, The City is located 77 km from Perros Guirec, 90 km from Saint Malo, 102 km from Rennes, 146 km from Brest, and 102 km from my current home, We go there by the D768 road towards Pontivy, then the D700 dir Loudéac and connect with the N164 briefly and back on the D700 to Saint Brieuc.

The Gothic-style contemporary Cathédrale St Etienne was built from the 13C to the 18C. Some relics of Saint Brieuc itself, dating from the 6C, are preserved there. It was built on a swamp with wooden pillars. It is one of the few fortified churches in Brittany. The “Grande Dame de Pierre” or the Big Lady of Stone, thus reflects the history of the city.

From its two towers, both with deadly features, the Brieuc tower is the lowest and the highest is the Marie tower. A century separates the construction of the two towers, 14C and 15C.  The Brieuc tower is the lowest and the Marie tower the highest. The towers are equipped with slits for archers.

The nave, rebuilt from 1712 to 1715, gives, with its massive pillars and its large high windows, an impression of great heaviness. 

The choir is wonderful a Cross of the altar, lectern, cathedra and contemporary suspended crown of lights with a diameter of almost 4 meters!

Do not miss the baptismal font Basin ,15C, as well as the altarpiece of the Annunciation, in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, masterpiece of Baroque Art ,18C. The Chapel of the Annunciation, this altarpiece is considered a masterpiece of rock aesthetics in Brittany. It is one of the most beautiful wooden retables of the Côtes d’Armor, it is surmounted by a glory illustrating God the Father and the Holy Spirit. The central table of the altarpiece represents Christ alongside the angel Gabriel making the announcement to Mary.

The wonderful pulpit or chaire is from the 19C

The great organ of the Cathedral St Etienne is a great Cavaillon of 1848, takes place in a magnificent buffet dating back to 1540. Several recumbents and tombs of the 17C and 18C are spread around. A few stations of the contemporary Way of the Cross made by the school of Fine Arts of Rennes are shown around the walls.

Saint Brieuc

A bit of history I like tell us that the Gothic-style contemporary Cathédrale St Etienne was built from the 13C to the 18C. Some relics of Saint Brieuc itself, dating from the 6C, are preserved there. It was built on a swamp with wooden pillars. It is one of the few fortified churches in Brittany. The “Grande Dame de Pierre” or the Big Lady of Stone, thus reflects the history of the city. Besieged, burned, the Cathedral will experience many avatars during the 14C, during the wars of succession that hit Brittany. Its restoration and extension spread throughout the 15C. The Cathedral was looted again during the Wars of Religions, and the League from 1589 to 1598. In 1220, the planning of the western pediment of the Cathedral after the Cathedral of Noyon, in the Oise. Construction of the North tower. It becomes the Episcopal dungeon. By 1431-1436, construction of the South tower following the generous gift of  Duke Jean V. In the 17C construction of corbelets supporting the balustrade, and completion of the nave rosette in 1728. By the time of the French revolution 1789-1794, the Cathedral serves as a warehouse and shed. In 1853, construction of a wooden hourd topped by a pyramidion. The corbelets are transformed into machicolations consoles.  The six portraits of the north side door known as the Gate of the Martray were made around 1860. Four of these portraits were sawn to allow the opening of two small doors.  in 1889, construction of the central porch.

The official Cathédrale Saint Etienne de Saint Brieuc : https://www.cathedrale-saintbrieuc.fr/lhistoire/

The city of Saint Brieuc on heritage: https://www.saint-brieuc.bzh/action-publique/histoire-et-patrimoine/le-patrimoine-briochin

The local Bay of Saint Brieuc tourist office on the heritage of Saint Brieuc: https://www.baiedesaintbrieuc.com/saint-brieuc/patrimoine-culturel-et-histoire-de-saint-brieuc/

The Côtes d’Armor dept 22 tourist office on the Cathedral:https://www.cotesdarmor.com/fr/fiche/patrimoine-culturel/cathedrale-saint-etienne-saint-brieuc_TFOPCUBRE0220HA638S/

There you go folks, another nice stop in Saint Brieuc in the north sea coast on lovely territory. And of course, do stop by the wonderful fortified Cathedral , Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Cathédrale Saint Etienne of Saint Brieuc !!! 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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