Limoges Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LimogesFrench: Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Limoges |
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Limoges Cathedral
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Region | Haute-Vienne |
| Rite | Roman |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Limoges, France |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | church |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Renaissance, Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 1273 |
| Completed | 1888 |
Limoges Cathedral (which in French is called Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Limoges) is a large Roman Catholic church in Limoges, France. It's a very important building for the country and is where the Bishop of Limoges works. The cathedral shows off different building styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Romanesque.
Building this amazing church started way back in 1273. It took a very long time to finish, finally being completed in 1888. That's over 600 years of building! When it was done, the main part of the church, called the nave, was connected to its tall, partly octagonal bell tower. The cathedral is also famous for its beautiful Renaissance rood screen. This is a special screen that used to separate parts of the church. It was built in 1534 and has cool carvings showing the "labors of Hercules." You can also see the tomb of Bishop Jean de Langeac, who asked for the rood screen to be made. His tomb has carvings inspired by the artist Albrecht Dürer, showing scenes from the Apocalypse.
Exploring the Cathedral's Architecture
The cathedral has an old Romanesque underground room called a crypt. Its walls have beautiful old paintings, known as frescoes, that show Christ in glory. Some medieval paintings can still be seen in a few small rooms, called chapels, including pictures of angels playing music. However, most of the frescoes you see today were painted in the 1800s.
The Cathedral of Limoges has two organs, which are huge musical instruments. One is a newer, "neoclassical" organ built in 1963. The other is a smaller "choir organ" that was first put in place in 1850. Every summer, a group that supports the cathedral puts on organ concerts. This helps people enjoy the amazing music these organs can make in such a grand building.
Gallery of Images
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Limoges para niños
