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 ,Chapels !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
The City of Bayeux is from the department 14 of Calvados and the Normandie region, and in my belle France, It has been headquarters of bishopric since the 4C and a viscounty of the time of the Duchy of Normandy until 1749. Bayeux is famous for its tapestry depicting William the Conqueror’s conquest of England in embroidered form. It was the first town liberated by Operation Overlord and one of the few in Normandy to have remained intact after the fighting, thus preserving a rich architectural and cultural heritage. Bayeux is 15 km from Colleville-sur-Mer, 30 km from Caen, 261 km from Paris, and 303 km from my current home, Bayeux railway station is located on the Paris-Saint-Lazare – Cherbourg line and the Caen-Rennes TER line, but never taken it.
North aisle :
The Chapel of Saint-Pierre, Sainte-Trinité and Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle , built before 1350. A Baroque altarpiece from the first half of the 17C evokes the Marian symbols of the litanies of the Virgin. At the top is God the Father surrounded by angels and on the sides are figures from the Old Testament. The grille from 1758-1759 once closed one side of the nave. At the back, door to the chapter house.
The Chapel of Saint-Martin-aux-Vicaires was founded in 1309 by Canon Pierre de Saint-Pierre-aux-Champs. Wall paintings depicting angels and the founding canon (14C). Interesting Baroque altarpiece known as An Annunciation and a Crucifixion, a painting depicting a dying man supported by his guardian angel and the Virgin Mary, interceding with the risen Christ.
The Chapel of Saint John the Evangelist was founded in 1289 by Bishop Pierre de Beanis and through which the chapter library was accessed. The Chapel of the Annunciation and Saint John was founded in 1328 by Bishop Pierre de Lévis. Stained glass window depicting the Annunciation and the life of Saint Regnobert. Grille from 1758-1759 formerly closing one side of the nave. The Chapel of Saint Antonin and Holy Cross and of the Annunciation ,The last two chapels of the north aisle were built before 1350 and split into two levels. On the ground floor, the Passage d’Arthenay, built in the 14C, allowed the bishop to come directly from the bishop’s palace to the cathedral. On the upper level is a high chapel with a gallery.
South aisle :
The Chapel of Saint-Jean-près-de-la-Tour-Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte-Saint-Martin-aux-Fonts ,This is the first side chapel founded by Bishop Odon de Lorris. The stained-glass window depicts the life of Saint Manvieu, Bishop of Bayeux (5C). The grille comes from the rood screen (1700). The Chapel of Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Contest-et-Sainte-Honorine, This chapel dates from the second half of the 13C. The decoration dates from 1839. The stained-glass window depicting the life of Saint Contest was created under the direction of Abbot Thomine-Desmazures, by employees of the Bayeux porcelain factory. It houses the tomb of Jean-Baptiste Hue de Launay, born in Coutances, Vicar General of the Diocese of Bayeux, Archdeacon of Caen.
The Chapel of Sainte-Marguerite-et-Saint-Maur, This chapel dates from the second half of the 13C, but features flamboyant fenestration. The stained-glass window depicts the life of Saint Vigor (1847). The Chapel Julien and Saint-Exupère ,built last quarter of the 13C. Stained-glass window depicting the life of Saint Exupère (1848). This chapel is dedicated to peace. Behind an 18C painting depicting Saint Exupère exorcising a possessed woman, a medieval fresco was discovered in 2015, likely showing the resurrection of Lazarus at the top and the Crucifixion of Christ at the bottom. The Chapel Saint-Sébastien-Saint-Gerbold-et-Sainte-Radegonde. A chapel built after the transept was redesigned (late 13C). It includes a 19C mural by Panchet-Bellerose and a stained-glass window by Coffetier depicting the life of Saint Radegonde (1873).
South arm of the transept :
The Chapels of Saint Nicholas and Saint Thomas Becket, The two chapels are included in a radiant architecture. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra and Saint Thomas Becket, they are decorated with interesting wall paintings. The chapel on the left includes a beautiful Annunciation from the 13C surmounted by an impressive representation of the Trinity restored in the 19C. The one on the right includes in the lower panel scenes from the life of Saint Nicholas surmounted by a crucifixion (13C). In the upper panel, the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket is by Panchet-Bellerose (19C). North arm of the transept : The Chapels of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, The two chapels were walled up in 1756.
The ambulatory and its radiating chapels:
The Chapel of Saint Vincent , includes beautiful stained glass windows from the 13C depicting the bishops Saint Exupère and Saint Loup, which come from the large windows of the nave (around 1260). This is where the treasury door is located. The Chapel of Saint Catherine and All Saints The single stained glass window includes six medieval figurines,
The Chapel of Saint John the Baptist, includes restored paintings depicting Saint Lubin, Bishop of Chartres in the 6C, and Saint Genevieve, patron saint of Paris. A relic of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux has been installed here, having come to the cathedral in 1887 to asked the bishop, Flavien Hugonin, for permission to return to Carmel.
The Chapel of Saint Pantaleon and Saint Antoninus, Before 1562, the cathedral held the bodies of these two saints. The chapel includes paintings from the 17C Saint Pantaleon), and 19C Saint Joseph. It displays the reliquary of Blessed Marie-Catherine de Saint-Augustin, born Catherine de Longpré. She was a Norman nun who devoted her entire life to charity in Canada. The Chapel Notre-Dame contains the tombs of three bishops: Charles Didiot, Flavien Hugonin, and Thomas Lemonnier. The “archaeological” stained-glass windows (1901): mysteries of the Rosary, Tree of Jesse, litanies of Our Lady of Loreto, and the coat of arms of Pope Leo XIII.
The Chapel of Saints Eloi and Robert , includes 17C paintings depicting Saints Eloi and Robert of Molesmes (founder of Cîteaux), as well as neo-Gothic pastiches depicting two scenes from the life of Saint Eloi as a craftsman and bishop.
The Chapel of Saints Michael and Blaise, includes ancient paintings: the Martyrdom of Saint Blaise (14C) and the Visitation (15C). Other paintings from the early 20C are dedicated to Saint Michael. A stained-glass window evokes his legend (1901). A statue of the archangel dates from the same period.
The Chapel of the Holy Innocents is adorned with a contemporary stained-glass window donated by the D-Day Normandy Fellowship and inaugurated by the Queen Mother of the United Kingdom, nicknamed Queen Mum, on June 6, 1989. The Chapel of Saint Andrew and Saint Leo ,A statue of Saint Cecilia has been placed there, presenting the small organ case 17C. The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception This is the former vestry (sacristy) of the Gothic cathedral. In 1462, it was transformed into a chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary thanks to the generosity of two Italian humanists, the brothers Roland and Antoine de Talents, canons of the cathedral who came to Bayeux following Bishop Zanon de Castiglione . Today, it is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
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, Chapels !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 