Labyrinth of the Reims Cathedral facts for kids
The Labyrinth of the Reims Cathedral was a special maze-like pattern built into the floor of the main part of the famous Reims Cathedral in France. This unique design was found in the nave, which is the long central area of a church. It was a type of labyrinth used in churches during the Middle Ages.
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What Did the Labyrinth Look Like?
The labyrinth was shaped like a complex square with its corners cut off. Each side was about 10.36 meters (around 34 feet) long. The paths you could walk on were about 27.94 centimeters (about 11 inches) wide. Dark blue stone from the Ardennes region was used to separate these paths. These lines were about 11.43 centimeters (about 4.5 inches) wide.
The labyrinth was made from a soft stone. This meant it wore down over time from all the people walking on it. It was the same kind of stone used for a famous tombstone, which you can still see in the cathedral today.
Who Was Featured in the Labyrinth?
A very special thing about this labyrinth was that it showed pictures of the master builders, also known as master masons, who helped construct the cathedral. In most other old churches, we don't know who the builders were; they remain a mystery. But thanks to this labyrinth, we know exactly who these important people were!
Drawings of the labyrinth were made in 1640 and again in 1779, just before it was taken down. These drawings also included dates and descriptions of what each builder worked on.
The person shown in the very center of the labyrinth is believed to be Aubry de Humbert. He was the Archbishop of Reims. In 1211, he made the big decision to build a brand new cathedral. This was needed because the old one had been destroyed by a fire in 1210.
The people shown in the corners of the labyrinth were the main master masons who worked on the cathedral one after another:
- (Top right) : Jean Orbais (1211-1231) was the first. He drew the plans for the cathedral and started building the back part, called the apse.
- (Top left) : Jean-le-Loup (1231-1247) began working on the northern entrances, called portals.
- (Bottom left) : Gaucher de Reims (1247-1255) started building the arches and the main entrances on the front (western) side of the cathedral.
- (Bottom right) : Bernard de Soissons (1255-1290) built five of the arched ceilings, known as vaults, in the nave. He also created the large, beautiful rose window.
Bernard de Soissons was in charge when the labyrinth was first put in place. There's no sign of the fifth and perhaps most famous builder, Robert de Coucy. He worked from 1290 to 1311 and was responsible for the wooden parts and the roof.
The pictures showed the masons busy at work, holding their tools. For example, Jean d'Orbais looked like he was drawing a map on the floor.
There were also two other shapes near the entrance of the labyrinth. However, these were so worn away that no one could tell who they were meant to be.
Recreating the Labyrinth Today
For a long time, people wanted to rebuild the labyrinth. But it was difficult because of technical challenges and rules. So, instead of a physical reconstruction, they decided to create a special light projection. This projection shines the image of the labyrinth onto the floor where it used to be. It only plays in the evening, especially during cultural events. This modern version was first shown on September 19, 2009.
The Labyrinth as a National Symbol
The design of the Reims Cathedral labyrinth has been chosen as the national logo for French historical monuments. These are called "monuments historiques" in France. This logo shows the labyrinth without the people, turned by 45 degrees, and is often colored dark red.
Images for kids
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Projection of the labyrinth at its former place in the nave.
