Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi
Encyclopedia
Albi Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of Saint Cecilia
(French: Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi), is the most important religious building in Albi, southern France
, and the seat of the Archbishop of Albi (in full, Albi-Castres-Lavaur). First built as a fortress begun in 1287 and under construction for 200 years, it is claimed to be the largest brick building in the world.
In 2010 the cathedral was designated a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
, the present-day patroness of musicians. It was replaced in the thirteenth century by a Romanesque
cathedral in stone.
The Brick Gothic
cathedral was constructed in brick between 1287 to 1480 in the wake of the Albigensian heresy in the area. The government mounted a brutal crusade
to suppress the Cathar rebellion, with great loss of life to area residents. In the aftermath of the bloodshed, the cathedral's dominant presence and fortress-like exterior were intended to convey the power and authority of the Christian
faith. The instigator of the cathedral's construction was Bernard de Castanet
, Bishop of Albi and Inquisitor of Languedoc. Work on the nave was completed about 1330.
is the widest Gothic example in France at 60 feet (18.3 m). The interior lacks aisles which are replaced by rows of small chapels between brick internal buttresses, making Albi a hall church
. Compared with regular Gothic, the buttreses are almost entrely submerged in the mass of the church. The principal entry is on the south side through an elaborate porch entered by a fortified stair, rather than through the west front, as is traditional in France.
The side chapels in the nave received overhead galleries in the 15th century, diminishing their impact..
The elaborate interior stands in stark contrast to the cathedral's military exterior. The central chœur, reserved for members of the religious order, is surrounded by a roodscreen with detailed filigree stone work and a group of polychrome statues. Below the organ, a fresco
of the Last Judgement, attributed to unknown Flemish
painters, originally covered nearly 200 m² (the central area was later removed). The frescoes on the enormous vaulted ceiling comprise the largest and oldest ensemble of Italian Renaissance
painting in France.
The cathedral organ, the work of Christophe Moucherel, dates from the 18th century.
Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia is the patroness of musicians and Church music because as she was dying she sang to God. It is also written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". St. Cecilia was an only child. Her feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Anglican,...
(French: Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi), is the most important religious building in Albi, southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and the seat of the Archbishop of Albi (in full, Albi-Castres-Lavaur). First built as a fortress begun in 1287 and under construction for 200 years, it is claimed to be the largest brick building in the world.
In 2010 the cathedral was designated a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
History
The present cathedral was preceded by other buildings. The first dated from the fourth century and in 666 was destroyed by fire. The second is recorded in 920 by the name of Saint CeciliaSaint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia is the patroness of musicians and Church music because as she was dying she sang to God. It is also written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". St. Cecilia was an only child. Her feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Anglican,...
, the present-day patroness of musicians. It was replaced in the thirteenth century by a Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
cathedral in stone.
The Brick Gothic
Brick Gothic
Brick Gothic is a specific style of Gothic architecture common in Northern Europe, especially in Northern Germany and the regions around the Baltic Sea that do not have natural rock resources. The buildings are essentially built from bricks...
cathedral was constructed in brick between 1287 to 1480 in the wake of the Albigensian heresy in the area. The government mounted a brutal crusade
Albigensian Crusade
The Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade was a 20-year military campaign initiated by the Catholic Church to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc...
to suppress the Cathar rebellion, with great loss of life to area residents. In the aftermath of the bloodshed, the cathedral's dominant presence and fortress-like exterior were intended to convey the power and authority of the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith. The instigator of the cathedral's construction was Bernard de Castanet
Bernard de Castanet
Bernard de Castanet was the bishop of the Diocese of Albi from 1276 to 1308. While bishop Castenet was involved in a struggle with the local landowners to preserve his temporal power...
, Bishop of Albi and Inquisitor of Languedoc. Work on the nave was completed about 1330.
Features
The cathedral is built in the Southern Gothic Style. As suitable building stone is not found locally, the structure is built almost entirely of brick. Notable architectural features include the bell-tower (added in 1492), which stands 78 metres (255.9 ft) meters tall, and the doorway by Dominique de Florence (added circa 1392). The naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
is the widest Gothic example in France at 60 feet (18.3 m). The interior lacks aisles which are replaced by rows of small chapels between brick internal buttresses, making Albi a hall church
Hall church
A hall church is a church with nave and side aisles of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. The term was first coined in the mid-19th century by the pioneering German art historian Wilhelm Lübke....
. Compared with regular Gothic, the buttreses are almost entrely submerged in the mass of the church. The principal entry is on the south side through an elaborate porch entered by a fortified stair, rather than through the west front, as is traditional in France.
The side chapels in the nave received overhead galleries in the 15th century, diminishing their impact..
The elaborate interior stands in stark contrast to the cathedral's military exterior. The central chœur, reserved for members of the religious order, is surrounded by a roodscreen with detailed filigree stone work and a group of polychrome statues. Below the organ, a fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
of the Last Judgement, attributed to unknown Flemish
Flemish painting
Flemish painting flourished from the early 15th century until the 17th century. Flanders delivered the leading painters in Northern Europe and attracted many promising young painters from neighbouring countries. These painters were invited to work at foreign courts and had a Europe-wide influence...
painters, originally covered nearly 200 m² (the central area was later removed). The frescoes on the enormous vaulted ceiling comprise the largest and oldest ensemble of Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
painting in France.
The cathedral organ, the work of Christophe Moucherel, dates from the 18th century.
External links
- Cathedral, Mairie-Albi]
- Location
- Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi, Tourist Office site
- Panoramic virtual tour inside the cathedral