Dol-de-Bretagne Cathedral

facade

The central nave

View of the organ

The Saint-Samson Cathedral in Dol-de-Bretagne stands in Brittany in France .

history

Saint Samson , a monk who immigrated in the 6th century , is considered to be the founder of the city of Dol . Because of its border location between Brittany and Normandy , Dol was besieged by the Normans and occupied and plundered several times. In 1203 Dol was taken by the English King John Ohneland . He burned down the Romanesque chapel . Allegedly because of religious remorse, he paid money for the construction of today's cathedral to make amends. It was rebuilt under Bishop Jean de Lisannet (1203–1231). His successors completed the choir . More than 80 bishops held the bishopric until 1795.

During the French Revolution , the cathedral was converted into a " Temple of Reason " and eventually served as a horse stable, granary and ballroom. In 1801 the bishopric was restored. The Archbishop of Rennes has been Archbishop of Dol and Saint-Malo since 1880.

The current cathedral was built over a longer period of time. Its west facade dates from the 12th century in the middle part and is the remainder of the former Romanesque church. During the Gothic period , two gates were added on the south side: the smaller one in the 13th century , the larger, "Grand Porche", in the 14th century . In the 15th century , the south tower was built on Romanesque foundations, the narrow campanile followed in the 17th century . One characteristic of the interior is worth mentioning: the main services stand in front of the pillars and are not connected to them.

The length of the cathedral is around 100 meters, the height of the central nave 20.5 meters.

The artistic glazing was created by the glass painter's workshop Ely, which initially worked in Nantes and later in Kassel-Wehlheiden.

organ

The organ goes back to an instrument that was built in the 16th century . Today only the organ case of this instrument remains, which was built in 1575 by the artist Lourdel. The organ itself has been expanded and restored several times over the years. After the positive was removed in 1948 , it was added again in 1977. The organ today has 38 registers on three manuals and a pedal . The actions are mechanical.

I positive C – g 3 Bourdon à cheminée 8th' Prestant 4 ′ Nazard 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′ Fourth 2 ′ Tierce 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′ Larigot 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′ Cymbals IV Trumpets 8th' Cromorne 8th'

II Grand Orgue C-g 3 Bourdon 16 ′ Montre 8th' Bourdon 8th' Flute 8th' Prestant 4 ′ Flute 4 ′ Duplicate 2 ′ Sesquialtera II Plein Jeu V Bombard 16 ′ Trumpets 8th' Clairon 4 ′

III Récit expressif C – g 3 Quintaton 16 ′ Flûte creuse 8th' Viol 8th' Voix céleste 8th' Flute 4 ′ Flute 2 ′ Plein Jeu IV Trumpets 8th' Basson-Hautbois 8th' Voix humaine 8th' Clairon 4 ′ Tremblant

Pedale C – f 1 Flute 16 ′ Flute 8th' Flute 4 ′ Bombard 16 ′ Trumpets 8th' Clairon 4 ′

literature

• Dol-de-Bretagne - The Cathedral . Church leader, German translation by Alfred Wehrle
• Rother, Frank and Almut: Brittany . DuMont Art Travel Guide, Cologne [1978] 16th edition 1990, p. 242
• The cathedral of Dol-de-Bretagne . o. J. (church leader)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Götz J. Pfeiffer: "owes the foundation of this art industry to the Ely family". Ely family and glass painting workshop in Kassel, Nantes and Wehlheiden . In: Journal of the Association for Hessian History and Regional Studies . tape 121 , 2016, p. 175-200 .
2. ↑ Information on the organ

Coordinates: 48 ° 33 '0 "  N , 1 ° 45' 21.8"  W.