A first cathedral was built on the site of a primitive, pre-Christian sanctuary, in the 4th century. The edifice was destroyed when the town was taken by Clovis after the Battle of Vouillé (507). Another cathedral was consecrated in 560, but this was also set on fire, maybe by the Vikings/Normans some two centuries later.
Plan of the cathedral
A third cathedral was then constructed under bishop Grimoard, abbot of Saint-Pierre de Brantôme. The new church was consecrated in 1017. However, at the beginning of the 12th century the citizens started to consider it too small for to the wealth of the county. The designer was bishop Gerard II, one of the most important French figures of the time, who was a professor, Papal legate for four popes and also a notable artist. Works began about 1110 and finished in 1128.
The church's original appearance was modified in the following centuries. One of the bell towers, for example, was destroyed during the Wars of Religion of the 16th century. Further alterations were made during the restorations by Paul Abadie in 1866-1885, including the addition of the two towers with conical tops, but the façade remains mostly medieval.
Architecture and art
The façade is decorated by more than 70 sculptures, organized into two decorative themes, the Ascension and the Last Judgement, which are cleverly intermingled. Christ is portrayed within mandorlas, while two tall angels address the apostles to show them the celestial vision. All their faces, as well as those of the other faithful under the arches, look toward the Redeemer; vice versa, the damned, pushed back in the side arches and turned into Satan's victims, suffer their punishment.
Apart from these two main subjects, the sculptors portrayed scenes of everyday life, such as hunting, not avoiding to underline hardships and painstaking labour.
The interior of the nave is covered with three domes, a transept of great length with lofty towers over the north and south ends, and an apsidal choir with four chevet chapels. At the crossing with the transept, is a larger dome over pendentives, which has replaced the original one destroyed in the Protestant siege of 1568. Once lighted by two lantern towers, the transept has maintained only the northern one (Abadie also modified it, and moved the medieval sculptures to other locations), characterized by several orders of mullioned windows.
The semicircular choir is flanked by small apses and covered by a half dome.
Abadie, Paul, restorer, "Angoulême Cathedral, under Renovation." (undated albumen print from ca. 1865-ca. 1886), A. D. White Architectural Photographs Collection, Cornell University Rare and Manuscript Collections (15/5/3090.01431)
High-resolution 360° Panoramas and Images of Angoulême Cathedral | Art Atlas
April 20, 2023
angoulême, cathedral, french, cathédrale, saint, pierre, angoulême, roman, catholic, church, angoulême, charente, france, cathedral, romanesque, architectural, sculptural, tradition, seat, bishop, angoulême, cathedral, saint, peter, angoulêmecathédrale, saint,. Angouleme Cathedral French Cathedrale Saint Pierre d Angouleme is a Roman Catholic church in Angouleme Charente France The cathedral is in the Romanesque architectural and sculptural tradition and is the seat of the Bishop of Angouleme Cathedral of Saint Peter of AngoulemeCathedrale Saint Pierre d AngoulemeFacade of the CathedralReligionAffiliationRoman Catholic ChurchDistrictDiocese of AngoulemeRiteRomanEcclesiastical or organizational statusCathedralLocationLocationAngouleme Charente Nouvelle Aquitaine FranceGeographic coordinates45 38 56 N 0 9 6 E 45 64889 N 0 15167 E 45 64889 0 15167 Coordinates 45 38 56 N 0 9 6 E 45 64889 N 0 15167 E 45 64889 0 15167ArchitectureTypechurchStyleRomanesque Contents 1 History 2 Architecture and art 3 See also 4 External linksHistory EditA first cathedral was built on the site of a primitive pre Christian sanctuary in the 4th century The edifice was destroyed when the town was taken by Clovis after the Battle of Vouille 507 Another cathedral was consecrated in 560 but this was also set on fire maybe by the Vikings Normans some two centuries later Plan of the cathedral A third cathedral was then constructed under bishop Grimoard abbot of Saint Pierre de Brantome The new church was consecrated in 1017 However at the beginning of the 12th century the citizens started to consider it too small for to the wealth of the county The designer was bishop Gerard II one of the most important French figures of the time who was a professor Papal legate for four popes and also a notable artist Works began about 1110 and finished in 1128 The church s original appearance was modified in the following centuries One of the bell towers for example was destroyed during the Wars of Religion of the 16th century Further alterations were made during the restorations by Paul Abadie in 1866 1885 including the addition of the two towers with conical tops but the facade remains mostly medieval Architecture and art EditThe facade is decorated by more than 70 sculptures organized into two decorative themes the Ascension and the Last Judgement which are cleverly intermingled Christ is portrayed within mandorlas while two tall angels address the apostles to show them the celestial vision All their faces as well as those of the other faithful under the arches look toward the Redeemer vice versa the damned pushed back in the side arches and turned into Satan s victims suffer their punishment Apart from these two main subjects the sculptors portrayed scenes of everyday life such as hunting not avoiding to underline hardships and painstaking labour The interior of the nave is covered with three domes a transept of great length with lofty towers over the north and south ends and an apsidal choir with four chevet chapels At the crossing with the transept is a larger dome over pendentives which has replaced the original one destroyed in the Protestant siege of 1568 Once lighted by two lantern towers the transept has maintained only the northern one Abadie also modified it and moved the medieval sculptures to other locations characterized by several orders of mullioned windows The semicircular choir is flanked by small apses and covered by a half dome See also EditHistory of medieval Arabic and Western European domesExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cathedrale Saint Pierre d Angouleme Angouleme Cathedral at Structurae Page with photos and drawings Abadie Paul restorer Angouleme Cathedral under Renovation undated albumen print from ca 1865 ca 1886 A D White Architectural Photographs Collection Cornell University Rare and Manuscript Collections 15 5 3090 01431 High resolution 360 Panoramas and Images of Angouleme Cathedral Art Atlas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Angouleme Cathedral amp oldid 1040425969, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
