Sunday 19 July 2015

The historic town of Troyes; part 3 - its cathedral and some sculptures

Close to the ancient city centre is the Cathedral dedicated to Saint Pierre and Saint Paul. This is the third such on or around this site. The first was built in the 5th century but destroyed by the invading Normans in the 9th. Around the year 1000, a second Romanesque style church was built, and in 1128 it witnessed the founding of the Order of Knights Templar, but less than 200 years later, this was badly damaged by fire. The early 13th century had brought in the Gothic style of church building and work commenced on one of the largest and most beautiful of France's churches. The building work went on for 400, yes 400 years, interrupted by the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) and repairs necessary due to fire and storm damage. In 1634, the building work was stopped due to a lack of money, the second tower remaining unfinished to this day, as you can see below!

The main elevation

This plaque commemorates the day in July 1429 when Joan of Arc escorted the Dauphin (King's son) to mass in the cathedral, en route to proclaiming him Charles VII of France at Reims cathedral, in contravention of the Treaty of Troyes signed in 1420. This treaty was set up as a plot between Henry V of England and a French ally, Phillip of Burgundy to try to prevent the Dauphin from becoming French king (Charles VII) on the death of his father Charles VI, who was mad in any case! Henry has already married a French noblewoman in 1420 in order to try to stake his own claim to the French throne, so Joan of Arc had thwarted Henry's plans and he never achieved his desire to be king of England AND France, as many of his ancestors has been!

Towering columns supporting the stone vaulting of the roof.

Altar and choir, built in the 12th century

Rose window of the North Transept

If these stones could talk..............!

Spectacular stained glass windows in the nave and transept.


 A permanent sculpture, entitled the Heart of Troyes, next to the Bassin, explained in the last part of this blog.

The following four sculptures are nearby, and somewhat controversial according to the local press. They are the work of Reynald Jenneret, a local artist and are in the so-called "retro-futurist" style. He says they are "tongue-in-cheek" and not to be taken seriously! If you don't like them, you will be pleased to hear they will be moved away in November!





My thanks once again to Nigel for all his research and help.



See also my daily Photo Diary Here


My Life Before Charente   - New post 19/07/2015

41 comments:

  1. Super photographs...I must say that the sculptures don't do much for me..i keep thinking of how the public money might have been better spent....
    I've been enjoying your visit to Troyes!

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    1. Fly I have to agree with you but each to their own, November they will be gone and I presume another set of sculptures will appear! It would do better though I think to use the money on restoration. Hope you are both well Diane

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  2. A truly magnificent building and I enjoyed those sculptures too. Thanks for sharing and have a great week :)

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    1. Denise I was not that keen on the sculptures but they all add to the quirky town. You have a good week also. Diane

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  3. It goes without saying how magnificent the cathedral is, but those sculptures are wonderful. I love them!

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    1. The cathedral is amazing. The sculptures did little for me, I thought them a little strange. Interesting, but I am glad they are not permanent :-) Take care Diane

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  4. Great post, Diane! I can imagine the church taking 400 years, it's magnificent, very beautiful! Good for Joan of Arc, she earned the plaque. The sculptures are definitely unique and I wish I could see them in person, but especially, the church. Thanks and take care

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    1. Thanks Pam for the comment, Yes Joan of Arc was quite some woman. Hope you are both well Diane

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  5. Love the heart sculpture, so pretty. The others are very interesting too, very unusual x

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    1. Thanks Kerry the heart is very different. As for the others, I am glad we saw they but they are quite odd :-) Have a good week Diane xx

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  6. Hi Diane ... wonderful photos and descriptions ... Joan of Arc - amazing woman. I can't say I'm that excited by the sculptures - but appreciate that the artist is given a showing, and he probably will be famous one day ... they are fascinating though - but incongruous against the Medieval background. The cathedral really is superb ...

    I've become more enamoured after seeing a lot of steampunk used in the ParaOlympics .... and of Mervyn Peak and Titus Alone ... and then lots of bloggers use the genre or similar - as too many famous artists, writers, et al ...

    Interesting to see and to find out a little more ... and one day I'd like to visit ... cheers and thanks to Nigel too! Hilary

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    1. Thanks Hilary, without Nigel's research and write-ups these posts now would ever be done so he has added more than his share to my blogs. Good job he has now retired and moved here :-) The cathedral is beautiful but so are other churches in the town, 13 in all and we only saw 3. Hope you are doing well Diane

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  7. These pictures are lovely Diane!
    Especially I love the Cathedral pictures and the window glasses!
    Beajtuful!

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    1. Thanks Gloria, the Cathedral is beautiful and as we have said if only those stones could talk!! Have good day Diane

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  8. This three part post shows a truly lovely tour! The stained glass windows in that cathedral are stunning. Nigel is a terrific researcher for you, and you surely do give us plenty of information to absorb with every post. Hope you are enjoying your summer, Diane!

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    1. Thanks Marjie from us both. The research is fun but Nigel has more patience that I have finding everything:-) Summer is great despite it being very hot. Never the less, too hot is so much better than too cold!!! Hope you are all well Diane

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  9. De bien belles photos d'une ville et d'une cathédrale aussi chargées d'histoire.
    Merci à toi pour toutes ces découvertes.
    See soon

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    1. Nadji nous aimons découvrir, et de la recherche historique est intéressant. Bonne journée Diane

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  10. The cathedral is just amazing as the history that goes along with it. It's still hard for me to fathom something that old still existing in our modern world. It's fun to imagine how many feet walked on those gorgeous old stones through the centuries. With regard to the sculptures, he has a fantastic sense of humor. I can see why some people, especially those that live there, will be happy to see them go, but in their own special way I think they are quite interesting and they give people something to talk about.
    Sam

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    1. Thanks Sam for the comment, if only those walls and stones could talk!!! We found the sculptures quite strange as they did not rally fit in with the town, but as they are only there for a shortish period I guess they are a bitof fun inand odd sort of way :) Hope you are well. Sounds like you had a great holday, Diane

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  11. Wow absolutely beautiful Diane , your photos are amazing. But what fabulous architecture. So hard to believe how they made these fascinating buildings. Favourites are photos 7 and 8 , what super captures, with shapes and shades. I like the Heart sculpture but not the others. Take care and have a great week, xox Anne

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    1. Thanks Anne I agree with you about 7 and 8 being the best. Those other sculptures are very odd,each to their own and they will be gone in November :-) Take it easy Diane xox

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  12. It blows my mind to think these type of beautiful cathedrals took hundreds of years to be constructed and without modern day technology. The ceiling and windows are breathtaking. They should complete the second tower . The sculptures look out of place in an ancient town.

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    1. Diane I also find it hard to believe what they built all those years ago without the equipment we have now. I wonder if they could build the second tower so well if they did decide to do it!! The sculptures will be gone in November, I do not think they will be missed very much! Take care T'other Diane

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  13. I am not very partial to the sculptures either, they are rather ugly, aren't they and certainly not a good mix with the surroundings.
    Again, a great tour of a magnificent city... many thanks for the mini-break!

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    1. Thanks Deanna for the comment. Those sculptures are very odd but they will be gone in November :-) Have a good day Diane

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  14. It's so amazing that church after church is built on top of the last remains and rather sad that the most recent has never been completed. Maybe the majesty of this building can't be reproduced today. Other than the heart, I prefer the church to the soon to be removed sculptures.

    BTW, did I tell you I received your dune accomplishment post card? Looks like my kind of place. Thank you.
    Sorry I'm so far behind reading. Just been having too much fun! If that's possible.

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    1. No Gaelyn you did not mention the PC but I am glad it has arrived.

      Maybe one day someone will produce the money required for the church to be finished, but after so long maybe they do not think it is necessary! Have a good day. Diane

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  15. I think that the insides of the cathedrals use dot be panted bright colours - they mist have looked even more remarkable than they do today.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. They must have been amazing when first done. Thanks so much for the comment and the visit. Diane

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  16. More beautiful pics of a wonderful looking place. The cathedrals there are simply stunning.

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    1. Thanks Penny, the churches and cathedrals in this town are amazing and there are 13 of them in this town! Hope you are well Diane

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  17. I'm starting to think more and more a road trip through the French countryside should be on my bucket list. If only the Rand wasn't so weak

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    1. If you make a plan let us know. Tell me about the Rand, we both have a pension paid there!!!!!!! Diane

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    2. Tell us about the Rand too! We have long term money to get out...

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    3. Getting out is easy enough but with the exchange rate !!!!!!

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  18. Thanks Regine it is. Diane

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  19. I've just caught up. We had a young Costa Rican friend here today and he was stunned by the cars on display....super photographs.

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    1. Thanks Fly, some of the cars were amazing, wish I could twitch my nose and magic our Porsche 356 back that we had in South Africa. It is worth a lot of money now and we certainly could not afford to buy another one at today's prices :-( Hope you are both well. Diane

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  20. The sculpture of the heart is beautiful and the last image made me smile! :)

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    1. Thanks Gunn, the heart of Troyes is quite spectacular. I could not make up my mind about the other images but as they were only temporary....... Have a good day Diane

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