Saint-Corentin Cathedral

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saint-Corentin Cathedral

The Saint-Corentin Cathedral (French Cathédrale Saint-Corentin de Quimper ) in Quimper ( Brittany ) is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the French diocese of Quimper .

history

In 1239 Evêque Raynaud commissioned the construction of the Saint-Corentin Cathedral in Quimper ( Brittany ). It was built on the foundation of a former Romanesque cathedral. It took three centuries to build.

The first part of the building was not completed until the arrival of Duke Johann V at the beginning of the 15th century. In 1410 the vaults of the choir were completed and the windows were erected. In 1424, Bishop Bertrand de Rosmadec built the nave and the two towers of the facade. The renovation was completed in 1515. But the two towers were finally completed by the architect Joseph Bigot between 1854 and 1856.

It is one of the three oldest Gothic cathedrals in Brittany along with the cathedrals of Saint-Pol-de-Léon and Tréguier . It has been classified as a monument historique in France since 1862 .

It is dedicated to the Breton Saint Corentin von Quimper , who lived in the 6./7. Century worked as a missionary in the region . The cathedral was raised to the status of a minor basilica on March 11, 1870 .

Architectural style

The two uniquely renovated spiers tower 76 m high. The cathedral was built in the shape of a cross. The nave is formed by two naves of the same length, which are taken up by the transept. The altarpieces in the transept date from the years 1827–1828. In the center of the cathedral is the sanctuary.

A special feature is the bend in the main axis . It is unclear what the reason for this construction project is. There are different theories. One says that the emphasis is on the crucifix . Another says it is because of the stability of the foundation. Or it is said that the kink takes up the bowed head of the crucified Jesus.

After the renovation work was completed in December 1999, the cathedral can now be admired as it was decorated at the end of the 15th century. The same colors as in the original were used on the cross ribs . H. Yellow ocher, red ocher used in lime plaster .

Once you have crossed the porch, the church windows light up towards you. The cathedral has three floors: the arcades , the double gallery and one floor with the tall stained glass windows. Some windows are from the 15th and 16th centuries, others were destroyed on December 12, 1793. The high glass roofs of the choir were built in 1420. In the 1850s, those destroyed during the French Revolution were restored by architect Joseph Bigot .

Numerous chapels are located around the choir. from different epochs from the 13th to the 16th century. A chapel was built on the occasion of Alain Canhiart's victory . The chapel's altar, shrine, stained glass and wall paintings tell the story of Saint Corentin of Quimper . A 19th century stained glass window shows an image of Saint Corentin blessing Saints Guénolé and Tudy .

One of the sights is the replica of the burial of Bourges from 1868. The sculpture is built in the form of the tomb from the 16th century. It depicts eight people, including the Canon Pierre du Quenquis (1415–1459) from various saints.

The pulpit is a baroque work from 1679 in polychrome and gilded wood. The high altar with Seraphim baldachin , which was presented at the world exhibition in 1867 , comes from Poussielgue and Boeswillwald. The fence of the wrought iron choir was made by Everaert.

Next to the baptismal font is an alabaster statue of John the Baptist , behind him a tree populated by birds and a speaking knight at his feet.

organ

View of the organ

The first documented organ was built in 1524 by the organ builder Robert Dallam (who later emigrated to England). The instrument was set up at the end of the main nave and probably had 25 or 26 stops on three manuals and a pedal. The organ case from this instrument is still preserved.

In the course of time the organ has been restored and expanded several times, initially in the years 1795–1796 by the organ builder François Marquer and in the 19th century also by the organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll; whose far-reaching plans for the instrument have only been implemented to a small extent.

In the meantime, the registers of the Positif have also been removed from the upstream housing and relocated to the main housing. In the middle of the 19th century the instrument then comprised 40 stops on three manual works and a pedal. In 1900 the original organ stage, built by Dallam, was replaced by a new structure made of granite in the Gothic style. The organ builder Gebrüder Wolff rebuilt the instrument and expanded the disposition to 50 registers.

In the years 1956–1958 the instrument was extensively restored. In the course of this, the organ was electrified by the organ builder Jean Hermann and an expansion of the disposition began, which, however, remained unfinished. At the beginning of the 1970s, the organ building company Danion-Gonzales worked on the instrument, based on plans by the organist Marcel Dupré. In 1990 the mechanics and the system were renewed. Between 1993 and 2003 the organ was revised by the organ builder Jacques Nonnen. In the course of this, the positif was also revived. Overall, the disposition and intonation of the instrument today approximates the plans of Cavaillé-Coll, who wanted to give the instrument a romantic character. The organ has 58 registers on four manuals and a pedal. The playing and stop action is mechanical.

I positive C – g 3
1. Montre 8th'
2. Dessus de flûte 8th'
3. Bourdon 8th'
4th Prestant 4 '
5. Flute 4 '
6th Nazard 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
7th Duplicate 2 '
8th. Tierce 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
9. Larigot 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
10. Fittings III
11. Cymbals III
12. Trumpets 8th'
13. Cromorne 8th'
Tremblant
II Grand Orgue C-g 3
14th Montre 16 '
15th Bourdon 16 '
16. Montre 8th'
17th Bourdon 8th'
18th Flûte harmonique 8th'
19th Viole de gambe 8th'
20th Prestant 4 '
21st Flute 4 '
22nd Grande Tierce 3 1 ⁄ 5  ′
23. Nazard 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
24. Duplicate 2 '
25th Fourth 2 '
26th Tierce 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′
27. Fittings V.
28. Cymbals IV
29 Chamade 8th'
III Bombard C-g 3
30th Grand Cornet V
31. Bombard 16 '
32. 1st trumpet 8th'
33. 2nd trumpet 8th'
34. Voix humaine 8th'
35. Clairon 4 '
tremolo
IV Récit expressif C – g 3
37. Flûte harmonique 8th'
38. Bourdon 8th'
39. Viol 8th'
40. Voix céleste 8th'
41. Flûte octaviante 4 '
42. Octavine 2 '
43. Flageolet 1'
44. Cornet IV
45. Basson 16 '
46. Hautbois 8th'
47. Trumpets 8th'
48. Voix humaine 8th'
49. Clairon 4 '
Pedale C – g 3
50. Bourdon 32 '
51. Soubasse 16 '
52. Flute 16 '
53. Flute 8th'
54. Flute 4 '
55. Bombard 16 '
56. Basson 16 '
57. Trumpets 8th'
58. Clairon 4 '

  • Elevation shows the bent axis

  • Inside view; Kink in the main axis

  • View of the three levels

  • Tomb of St. Corentin

Web links

Commons : Cathédrale Saint-Corentin de Quimper  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Cathédral Saint Corentin. La cathédrale Saint Corentin de Quimper, le joyau de l'art gothique breton. Office de Tourisme de Quimper Cornouaille, accessed on November 15, 2017 (French).
  2. ↑ a b c Quimper. In the heart of the Middle Ages. Comité Régional du Tourisme de Bretagne, accessed on November 15, 2017 .
  3. ↑ a b c d e Quimper. Cathédral Saint-Corentin de Quimper. infobretagne.com, accessed November 15, 2017 (French).
  4. ↑ a b Brittany: Saint Corentin Cathedral in Quimper. France Télévisions, accessed on November 15, 2017 (French).
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g Cathedral of Saint-Corentin - Quimper - Cornouaille. Brigitte Arndt, accessed November 15, 2017 .
  6. ^ Jean-Pierre Leguay: Quimper . In: Lexicon of the Middle Ages (LexMA). Volume 7, LexMA-Verlag, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-7608-8907-7 , Sp. 369 f.
  7. ^ Basilique-Cathédrale Saint-Corentin on gcatholic.org
  8. ↑ Cathédrale St-Corentin. Lonely Planet, accessed November 15, 2017 .
  9. ↑ Comprehensive information , including the history of the organ

Coordinates: 47 ° 59 ′ 44 ″  N , 4 ° 6 ′ 8 ″  W.