Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer facts for kids
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Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer is a very old and important building in Saint-Omer, France. It used to be a cathedral, which is a main church where a bishop works. Today, it is a regular church. This change happened after the French Revolution because the bishop's main office moved to a city called Arras. Even though it's not a cathedral anymore, it is still a very important historical building.
Contents
History of Notre-Dame
The story of Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer began a long time ago. In the 8th century, a small chapel was built on the spot where the church stands today.
From Chapel to Church
Around the year 1052, a larger church was built on the same site. This church was an important place for the people of Saint-Omer.
Rebuilding in Gothic Style
Around the year 1200, a big fire caused a lot of damage to the church. Because of this, the church needed to be rebuilt. The rebuilding started around 1263. It was built in the beautiful Gothic style, which has tall arches and stained-glass windows.
Building such a large and detailed church took a very long time. The main construction work lasted from the 13th century all the way to the 16th century. During this time, a college was also connected to the church.
Later Additions and Changes
In 1714, the bishop's official seat was placed in the church. A few years later, in 1717, the final touches were made to the church's large pipe organ. The beautiful wooden parts and the bishop's seat that you can see today were added in 1753.
The French Revolution's Impact
The French Revolution began in 1792. This was a time of big changes in France. During the revolution, many churches were closed. Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer was also closed to people who wanted to worship there.
A Storage Area
Instead of being a church, the building was used as a storage area. Luckily, unlike many other churches during this time, Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer did not suffer much vandalism. This means it was not badly damaged or destroyed.
Moving the Diocese
After the revolution, in 1801, an agreement called the Concordat of 1801 was made. This agreement led to the closing of the diocese of Saint-Omer. A diocese is the area a bishop is responsible for. The bishop's main office was then moved to the city of Arras. This is why Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer became a regular church instead of a cathedral.
