Bourges. Cathedral of Saint-Etienne

• At the heart of a medieval city, one of France's most exceptional cathedrals.
• An accessible text and rich iconography that showcase the cathedral, so you can slip it into your pocket...
• A collection of stained glass windows unique in the world, illuminating the interior.

Crowning the medieval city and visible for a radius of 20 kilometres, Bourges Cathedral is a beacon of history and art in the centre of France.

It has been the seat of an archbishopric since the^5th century. Located at the highest point in the city, the current cathedral was apparently preceded by two successive buildings, one mentioned in the ^6th century, the other Romanesque. Under the impetus of Archbishop Henri de Sully and the King of France, it was completely rebuilt in record time (1195-1258!): the genius architect whose name is still unknown was able to erect the highest church of his time, at the same period as the great cathedrals such as Chartres.

Bourges cathedral is a veritable medieval jewel, with a façade featuring five portals, a unique configuration in Gothic architecture. The interior elevation creates a remarkable unity of volume, illuminated by the resplendent stained glass windows that adorn the various bays. Eighteen radiating chapels surround the cathedral.

Saint-Etienne's cathedral was included on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1992.

History

From its origins to the ^12th centuryThe ^13th century: an exceptional building projectThe ^14th to the ^17th centuriesThe ^17th to the ^21st centuries

Exterior

NaveSouth wallChevetNorth wall

Interior

Nave and interior aislesChoirOutside aisle southOutside ambulatory southAbsidal chapelOutside ambulatory northOutside aisle northLower church

Appendices

GlossaryChronologyBibliography

Alain Villes is a chief heritage curator and field archaeologist, and is now one of the world's leading specialists in medieval religious architecture. He is currently based at the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. His publications with Éditions du patrimoine include: Sens, Cathédrale Saint-Étienne; Strasbourg, Cathédrale Notre-Dame; Reims, Cathédrale Notre-Dame and La sainte-chapelle du château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.