Valence Cathedral
The Cathedral of Valence or the Cathedral of St. Apollinaris ( French Cathedrale Saint-Apollinaire ) is a church in Valence in the French department of Drôme on the Rhone . The cathedral of the diocese of Valence has the rank of minor basilica and is dedicated to Apollinaris of Ravenna . It dates from the 11th century and was rebuilt after the Huguenot Wars at the beginning of the 17th century; it has been listed as a Monument historique since 1862 .
history
The Romanesque church was first built in the 11th century and consecrated in 1095 by Pope Urban II with the patronage of Ciprianus, Cornelius and Apollinaris. In 1281 lightning struck the tower, which was replaced by a top covered with slate. During the Huguenot Wars (1562–98) the cathedral was burned down twice by the Protestants in 1562 and 1567, after which it collapsed at the beginning of the 17th century. 1604-1609 the cathedral was rebuilt. The mixture of different stylistic epochs can still be seen in the faithful replica of the church. In the 18th century, Bishop Alexandre de Milon redesigned the church, in particular he financed the large organ, a new marble altar and paintings. The bell tower was destroyed by lightning in 1836 and replaced in 1861, the pointed helmet was given a tiled roof. In 1847 Pope Pius IX awarded the cathedral the title of minor basilica.
architecture
The hall church has a wide central nave and two narrow side aisles used as aisles, which are continued around the raised choir as the ambulatory . Four radially arranged chapels, which are typical of the Burgundian Romanesque, extend from the gallery . The construction of the nave suggests architects from the Poitevini region. A tympanum with a representation of the Last Judgment on the south portal is still preserved from the medieval decor . The decorations in polychrome stones are a special feature. The long and high nave, divided into seven bays , is supported by wide arches that rest on half-pillars attached to square pilasters . At the western end a platform carries the organ , which is opened to the main nave through a large semicircular arch adorned with a coat of arms. The aisles are covered with crossed barrel vaults, which are connected to the central nave by semicircular arches. The side aisles have no chapels. The main nave is quite dark as the lighting comes only through arched windows in the side aisles.
The round choir follows the transept directly, it is surrounded by cylindrical columns with small raised arches with their capitals. Finally, on the upper floor, three windows illuminate the vault. The apse is polygonal and opens into semicircular absidioles, each of which houses a chapel.
Furnishing
The organ was built in 1898 by the organ builder Cavaillé-Coll in an existing organ case from a previous instrument from around 1750. The instrument was restored in 1985 and most recently in 2014 by organ builder Yves Kœnig. It has 39 registers plus 4 transmissions on four manuals and pedal. The playing and stop actions are mechanical.
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- Pair: I / II, IV / II, I / P, II / P, IV / P
literature
- Guy Barruol: La cathédrale romane Saint-Apollinaire de Valence , pp. 301-315, in Congrès archéologique de France. 150th edition. Moyenne vallée du Rhône. 1992 , Paris, 1995.
- André Blanc, Le baptistère de Valence (Drôme) , pp. 87–116, Gallia, 1957, edition 15-1, ( online edition )
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Basilique-Cathédrale Saint-Apollinaire on gcatholic.org
- ^ Cathedral of Valence in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
- ↑ Cathédrale Saint-Apollinaire (French)
- ↑ Information on the organ
Coordinates: 44 ° 55 ′ 54 ″ N , 4 ° 53 ′ 22 ″ E