Le Mans Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Julian of Le MansCathédrale Saint-Julien du Mans |
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Le Mans Cathedral seen from the southeast (Place des Huguenots)
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Diocese of Le Mans |
| Region | Pays de la Loire |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Le Mans, France  |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | church |
| Architectural style | Roman, French Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 6th century |
| Completed | 15th century |
The Le Mans Cathedral (in French: Cathédrale St-Julien du Mans) is a large Catholic church in Le Mans, France. It is dedicated to Saint Julian of Le Mans, who was the first bishop of the city. He helped bring Christianity to the area around the early 300s.
This amazing building was constructed over many centuries, from the 500s all the way to the 1400s. It mixes two main styles: a Romanesque part (the nave) and a High Gothic part (the choir). The cathedral is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows and its unique flying buttresses at the back.
Contents
A Look at the Cathedral's History
The first church on this spot was built by Saint Julian. We don't know much about what it looked like. Over time, the church was rebuilt and made bigger several times.
In the 800s, a major rebuilding project happened. This new church was designed to hold the special items (relics) of Saint Julian. It had a large choir area with an apse and an ambulatory. This design was quite new for its time. Another big change happened in the 1000s and was finished around 1120.
The Cathedral We See Today
The Le Mans Cathedral is about 134-metre-long (440 ft). It stands in the old part of the city, known as Vieux Mans. This area is on a small hill with old streets and timber-framed houses.
The front part of the cathedral, called the nave, is built in the Romanesque style. This means it has round arches and a large central area with smaller aisles on each side. Light comes in through windows high up on the walls.
After a fire in 1134, a big rebuilding project started. King Henry II of England helped pay for some of this work. His father, Geoffroy of Anjou, was buried here. The new nave, which you can still see today, was built with stone vaults instead of a wooden roof. To support these heavy stone ceilings, the walls were made thicker, and flying buttresses were added to the outside.
Look closely at the stone carvings inside! The tops of the pillars (called capitals) have detailed carvings. Some show classical leaves, while others have plants, animals, and even funny human figures.
The Choir: A Grand Gothic Addition
In 1217, the church leaders got permission to remove part of the old city walls. This allowed them to make the eastern end of the cathedral much larger. Work on this new part, called the choir, began right away and was finished in 1254.
The new choir is built in the Gothic style. It has two aisles around the central area, like a double walkway. The architect used ideas from other famous cathedrals, like Bourges Cathedral and Chartres Cathedral. The stone carvings here are very detailed and beautiful, especially the natural-looking leaves.
From the outside, the flying buttresses of the choir look like a "forest" of stone. They are special because each buttress splits into two, forming a 'Y' shape. This unique design makes the eastern end of the cathedral look very graceful and delicate, especially when seen from below.
The Transepts: Connecting the Styles
After the choir was finished, the next step was to rebuild the transepts. These are the parts that stick out on the sides, making the cathedral look like a cross from above. This work took a long time because there wasn't enough money.
The south transept was started in the 1380s and finished in 1392. King Charles VI helped with money for this part. Work on the north transept began in 1403 but was delayed by the Hundred Years' War. It wasn't finished until the 1430s.
Amazing Stained Glass Windows
Le Mans Cathedral has about 20 stained glass windows from the mid-1100s. Most of them have been moved from their original spots. The large window at the western end shows scenes from the life of Saint Julian. It dates back to around 1155.
One of the oldest stained glass windows in France is here! It's called the Ascension window, found in the south aisle of the nave, and it's from about 1120.
The windows in the upper parts of the choir, from the 1200s, are mostly still in place. They show many different stories from the Old and New Testaments, the lives of saints, and miracles of the Virgin Mary. Each window tells its own story with unique artistic styles.
Grand Entrance Portals
On the south side of the nave, there's an early Gothic entrance (portal) from around 1150. It's protected by a large porch. This entrance looks similar to famous portals at Chartres Cathedral and the Abbey Church of St Denis.
The archway above the door (called the tympanum) shows Jesus surrounded by symbols of the four Evangelists. Below them are the twelve evangelists. The doorposts feature statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, along with eight figures from the Old Testament. The carvings around the archways show scenes from the Life of Christ.
Near the west side of the cathedral, there's a 4.5-meter (about 15-foot) tall prehistoric stone pillar called a menhir. Locals call it the Pierre St Julien (St Julian's Stone). It was moved here in 1778.
The Cathedral and the Plantagenet Family
Le Mans Cathedral had strong connections to the Plantagenet family, who were powerful rulers. Important events happened here, like the marriage of Geoffrey and Matilda in 1128. Their son, Henry II, was baptized here in 1133, and Geoffrey was buried here in 1151. Henry II also helped pay for the cathedral's renovations.
Burials
See also
- List of Gothic Cathedrals in Europe
Images for kids
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Le Mans Cathedral seen from the southeast (Place des Huguenots)
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Plan of the current cathedral
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View from the Romanesque nave towards the High-Gothic choir
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Oldest stained glass window in situ, depicting the Virgin and apostles during the Ascension of the Christ.
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View of the north elevation of the choir from the south aisle, showing the triforium and clerestory windows
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A prehistoric menhir placed at the southwest corner of the cathedral in 1778
