Height of towers, 280 feetHeight of nave, 100 feet
Height of towers, 280 feetHeight of nave, 100 feet
Chronology
First bishops sent from Rome, IIIrd centuryCathedral destroyed by Huguenots, 1567Chapels of nave which still remain, XIVth centuryLate Gothic mainly of XVIIth centuryWestern towers completed, 1789
First bishops sent from Rome, IIIrd centuryCathedral destroyed by Huguenots, 1567Chapels of nave which still remain, XIVth centuryLate Gothic mainly of XVIIth centuryWestern towers completed, 1789
NOTRE DAME DE PARIS
Paris
Dimensions
Length, 390 feetWidth, 144 feetHeight of nave, 102 feetDiameter of rose windows in transept, 36feetSuperficial area, 64,100 square feet
Length, 390 feetWidth, 144 feetHeight of nave, 102 feetDiameter of rose windows in transept, 36feetSuperficial area, 64,100 square feet
Chronology
Founded by Bishop de Sully, 1160-1170High altar dedicated, 1182Interior completed (approx.), 1208West front, 1223-1230Western towers, 1235Transept portals, 1257
Founded by Bishop de Sully, 1160-1170High altar dedicated, 1182Interior completed (approx.), 1208West front, 1223-1230Western towers, 1235Transept portals, 1257
NOTRE DAME DE REIMS
Dimensions
Western towers, 267 feetArea, 65,000 feet (approx.)
Western towers, 267 feetArea, 65,000 feet (approx.)
Chronology
First stone laid, 1212First portion dedicated, 1215Chapter takes possession of choir, 1244Nave commenced, 1250Transept and abside ornamented, 1295South tower begun and completed, 1380-1391Coronation of Charles VII., 1427Southwest tower completed by Philastre, 1430Tapestries added to choir, 1444Belfry of the Angel built, 1497Gable of the Assumption and Zodiac, 1408Reëstablishment of grand altar, 1547Repairs to portals and vaulting, 1610Cathedral becomes national property, 1790Exterior repairs and restoration, 1811General restorations, 18402,083,411 francs voted by Chamber for restorations, 1875Gifts of Gobelin tapestries, 1848
First stone laid, 1212First portion dedicated, 1215Chapter takes possession of choir, 1244Nave commenced, 1250Transept and abside ornamented, 1295South tower begun and completed, 1380-1391Coronation of Charles VII., 1427Southwest tower completed by Philastre, 1430Tapestries added to choir, 1444Belfry of the Angel built, 1497Gable of the Assumption and Zodiac, 1408Reëstablishment of grand altar, 1547Repairs to portals and vaulting, 1610Cathedral becomes national property, 1790Exterior repairs and restoration, 1811General restorations, 18402,083,411 francs voted by Chamber for restorations, 1875Gifts of Gobelin tapestries, 1848
NOTRE DAME DE ROUEN
Notre Dame Rouen
Dimensions
Length of nave and choir, 450 feetWidth, including transepts, 177 feetWidth of nave and aisles, 105 feetLength of choir only, 118 feetHeight of nave, 92 feetHeight of central spire, 480 feetHeight of Tour de Beurre, 252 feetHeight of Tour St. Romain, 246 feetArea (originally), 53,000 square feet
Length of nave and choir, 450 feetWidth, including transepts, 177 feetWidth of nave and aisles, 105 feetLength of choir only, 118 feetHeight of nave, 92 feetHeight of central spire, 480 feetHeight of Tour de Beurre, 252 feetHeight of Tour St. Romain, 246 feetArea (originally), 53,000 square feet
Chronology
First church founded on site of cathedral by St. Mellar, VIIth centuryCathedral enlarged under Rollo, who was buried therein in 930Consecrated and dedicated, 1063Tour St. Romain, remains of, XIth centuryDestroyed by fire, 1200New building completed, XIIIth centuryPortail de la Calende, XIVth centuryTour de Beurre laid, 1487Tour de Beurre completed, 1507Flamboyant west front, XVIth centuryAltar of St. Romain, XVIIth centuryTomb of the Cardinals, 1556Central spire, 1823Restoration of west front, 1897
First church founded on site of cathedral by St. Mellar, VIIth centuryCathedral enlarged under Rollo, who was buried therein in 930Consecrated and dedicated, 1063Tour St. Romain, remains of, XIth centuryDestroyed by fire, 1200New building completed, XIIIth centuryPortail de la Calende, XIVth centuryTour de Beurre laid, 1487Tour de Beurre completed, 1507Flamboyant west front, XVIth centuryAltar of St. Romain, XVIIth centuryTomb of the Cardinals, 1556Central spire, 1823Restoration of west front, 1897
ST. ETIENNE DE SENS
Dimensions
Length, 384 feetWidth, 124 feetHeight, 98 feetArea, 44,000 square feet
Length, 384 feetWidth, 124 feetHeight, 98 feetArea, 44,000 square feet
Chronology
Relique of True Cross given by Charlemagne, 800A. D.Early church destroyed by fire, 970New church dedicated, 997Present building completed, 1168Choir rebuilt, 1174Present transept and nave, XIIth and XIIIth centuriesGlass in chapel of St. Savinien, XIIIth centuryGlass of rose windows, XVIth centuryMausoleum of the Dauphin, XVIIIth century
Relique of True Cross given by Charlemagne, 800A. D.Early church destroyed by fire, 970New church dedicated, 997Present building completed, 1168Choir rebuilt, 1174Present transept and nave, XIIth and XIIIth centuriesGlass in chapel of St. Savinien, XIIIth centuryGlass of rose windows, XVIth centuryMausoleum of the Dauphin, XVIIIth century
BASILIQUE DE ST. DENIS
Dimensions
Length of nave and choir, 354 feetWidth, 133 feetClerestory windows (height), 33 feet
Length of nave and choir, 354 feetWidth, 133 feetClerestory windows (height), 33 feet
Chronology
Chapel first built above grave of St. Dionysius the martyr, 275A. D.Benedictine abbey first founded here in reign of Dagobert, 628Pope Stephen took refuge here, 754Romanesque façade, 1140Consecration of the building, 1144Nave, XIIIth centuryAbbot Suger died, 1151General restoration by Suger's successors, XIIIth centuryCrenelated battlement added to façade, XIVth centurySpire burned by lightning, XIXth centuryGeneral restoration by Viollet-le-Duc, 1860Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette reinterred here (removed fromthe Madeleine), 1817
Chapel first built above grave of St. Dionysius the martyr, 275A. D.Benedictine abbey first founded here in reign of Dagobert, 628Pope Stephen took refuge here, 754Romanesque façade, 1140Consecration of the building, 1144Nave, XIIIth centuryAbbot Suger died, 1151General restoration by Suger's successors, XIIIth centuryCrenelated battlement added to façade, XIVth centurySpire burned by lightning, XIXth centuryGeneral restoration by Viollet-le-Duc, 1860Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette reinterred here (removed fromthe Madeleine), 1817
CRYPT S. DENIS
NOTRE DAME DE ST. OMER
Dimensions
The great bell of tower weighs 8,500 kilos.
The great bell of tower weighs 8,500 kilos.
Chronology
Bishopric founded, 1533Astronomical clock, XVIth centuryTomb of St. Erkembode, VIIIth centuryTomb of St. Omer restored, XIIIth centuryFormer Episcopal Palace, now Palais de Justice, 1680
Bishopric founded, 1533Astronomical clock, XVIth centuryTomb of St. Erkembode, VIIIth centuryTomb of St. Omer restored, XIIIth centuryFormer Episcopal Palace, now Palais de Justice, 1680
ST. GATIEN DE TOURS
Dimensions
Length of nave and choir, 256 feetWidth, 95 feet
Length of nave and choir, 256 feetWidth, 95 feet
Chronology
Choir begun, 1170Tour Charlemagne, XIth centuryTour St. Martin, XIIth centuryTransepts, 1316West façade, 1430-1500Southwest tower, 1507Tomb of children of Charles VIII., 1483
Choir begun, 1170Tour Charlemagne, XIth centuryTour St. Martin, XIIth centuryTransepts, 1316West façade, 1430-1500Southwest tower, 1507Tomb of children of Charles VIII., 1483
ST. PIERRE DE TROYES
Dimensions
Length, 394 feetWidth, 168 feetHeight, 96 feetHeight northwest tower, 202 feet
Length, 394 feetWidth, 168 feetHeight, 96 feetHeight northwest tower, 202 feet
Chronology
Apse and chapels, 1206-1223Choir and transepts, 1314-1315Irongrilleof choir, XIIIth centuryChurch consecrated, 1430West façade, XVth centuryNave constructed during XIVth, XVth, XVIth centuriesNorth gable, XVth centuryTower St. Pierre, 1559-1568Northwest tower demolished by lightning, 1700Vaulting of transepts fell, 1840Restoration of choir and transepts, 1840
Apse and chapels, 1206-1223Choir and transepts, 1314-1315Irongrilleof choir, XIIIth centuryChurch consecrated, 1430West façade, XVth centuryNave constructed during XIVth, XVth, XVIth centuriesNorth gable, XVth centuryTower St. Pierre, 1559-1568Northwest tower demolished by lightning, 1700Vaulting of transepts fell, 1840Restoration of choir and transepts, 1840
The French Kings from Charlemagne Onward
CHARLES VII
Measurements of the Cathedrals at Amiens and Salisbury
(Whittington)
(The old French foot is the equal of 1.06576 English feet.)
The above comparative measurements are given as being of the contemporary types of English and French cathedrals, being nearly approximate to each other as to the date of their erection and measurements. The figures themselves are transcribed from a little-known but thoroughly conscientious work by G. D. Whittington, entitled "Contributions to an Ecclesiastical Survey of France."
French Metres Reduced to English Feet
A Brief Glossary of architectural terms, with popular definitions, as applied to the components which compose the principal features of a cathedral church
No. 1. Ground PlanNo. 2. Cross Section
No. 2. Cross SectionNo. 1. Ground Plan
No. 3 InteriorNo. 3 Interior
No. 4. Cross SectionNo. 4. Cross Section