Huesca Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord |
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| Country | Huesca, Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | Transfiguration of the Lord, Saint Peter |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Listed Monument since 3 June 1931, BIC code (RI) -51-0000626-00000 |
| Architectural type | church |
| Style | Gothic, Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 1294 |
| Completed | 16th century |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Huesca |
The Holy Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a beautiful Roman Catholic church. It is also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Huesca. You can find it in Huesca, a city in Aragon, which is in north-eastern Spain. This cathedral is the main church for the Bishop of Huesca. It was built in the Gothic style. Construction started in the late 1200s and finished in the early 1500s.
Contents
Building the Cathedral
The idea to build the Huesca Cathedral came from James I of Aragon. He was a king who ruled from 1213 to 1276. This was quite late compared to other churches in the area. Many nearby churches were built much earlier, in the Romanesque period.
For nearly 200 years, Christians in Huesca used a mosque for their worship. But in 1273, King James I thought this was not right. His nephew, James Sarroca, had just become the new bishop of Huesca. So, the king suggested building a new cathedral in the popular Gothic style. It would be built right on top of the old mosque.
Early Designs and Delays
Only a small part of the old mosque remains today. It is a horseshoe arch in the cloister area. This arch might have been the entrance to the mosque's minaret tower. Building the new cathedral faced some legal problems. These issues delayed the start of construction until 1294.
The first plan for the cathedral included three main sections called naves. It also had five chapels at the front and a transept, which is the part that crosses the main body of the church.
Construction Progress
The front part of the cathedral was built first. This happened between 1294 and 1309. The north wall of the transept was also built during this time. It included a round-arched doorway. An attached room, called the "Old Sacristy," was used for church vestments and records.
The side naves were built between 1296 and 1304. Later, side chapels were added by people who wanted to help.
Between 1327 and 1348, the simple vaulted ceilings were added to the side naves. The central nave and the transept were covered with a wooden roof.
The Main Doorway
The main doorway of the cathedral is a stunning example of Gothic art. It was created by the builder Guillem Inglés. The doorway has seven curved arches. These arches are decorated with many figures. You can see sixteen figures, fourteen virgins, ten angels, and eight prophets.
Above the doorway, a statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus stands out. On the sides, there are carvings of the Magi (the Three Wise Men). You can also see the resurrected Christ with Mary Magdalene.
The Cloister
In the 15th century, Pope Luna, Benedict XIII, started a project. He wanted to build a new Gothic cloister to replace the older Romanesque one. A cloister is a covered walkway, usually around a courtyard. However, only the south side of this new Gothic cloister was actually built. The rest of the project was never finished. Today, the incomplete part is in the Medieval Art Hall of the Cathedral Museum.
The Main Altarpiece
In 1520, Damian Forment was asked to create the cathedral's main altarpiece. An altarpiece is a work of art placed behind the altar. This one is made of alabaster, a type of stone. It is a large triptych, which means it has three panels. These panels show three scenes from the Passion of Christ. The Passion refers to the final events of Jesus's life.
Bell Tower and Spire
The bell tower of the cathedral was built between 1369 and 1423. It first reached four floors high. Builders Juan de Alguiñero and Juan de Quadros worked on it. Later, Pere Jalopa finished the tower. He added a beautiful pentagonal spire to the top. A spire is a tall, pointed structure on a church tower.
Sadly, this spire was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. It happened when the city was under attack. The spire used to make the tower one-third taller than it is now. For different reasons, it has not been rebuilt. However, there are plans to rebuild it. This would bring back the cathedral's impressive height from the past.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Huesca para niños
- Diocese of Huesca
- Huesca
