13th century

Notre-Dame d'Amiens

Notre-Dame d'Amiens

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 for the coherence of its plan, and the beauty of its three-tier interior elevation Notre-Dame d'Amiens, is the tallest completed Gothic church and largest cathedral in France. The Romanesque cathedral had been destroyed by fire in 1218, and Bishop Evrard de Fouilly employed Robert de Luzarches as the architect to build the new cathedral in the Gothic style to house the head of John the Baptist ⓘ which had been bought back as a relic by Wallon de Sarton returning from Constantinople in 1206 after the 4th crusade.

 

Notre-Dame de Chartres

Notre-Dame de Chartres

Designated a World heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres was built from between 1145 and 1250. It's high nave is spanned by ogival pointed arches to form the vault, and the walls are supported by double flying buttresses. Chartres is the first building to have used buttresses as a structural element.

 

Chartres Cathedral is also unique in having retained almost all of its original 12th and 13th century stained glass.

Otto IV Holy Roman Emperor

Otto IV (1175–1218) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1209 until his deposition in 1215. A member of the Welf dynasty, he was the son of Matilda, daughter of Henry II, and was raised in the courts of his uncles Richard I and John. In 1190 he was created Duke of York.

Portal of St Firmin

Portal of St Firmin

The portal of St Firmin opens into the north aisle of Amiens Cathedral. The tympanum ⓘ shows the discovery of his remains outside the city, and their transport to the cathedral.

 

 

 

Portal of St Stephen

Portal of St Stephen

The tympanum ⓘ of St Stephen ⓘ at Bourges cathedral was constructed by 1240, and is above one of the five portals at the west end of the cathedral. The tympanum is made up of three sections. The lowest section depicts Stephen being made one of the seven deacons of the early church. Above that is his martyrdom, and on top of all is an image of Christ as Salvator Mundi.

Portal of St Ursinus

Portal of St Ursinus

The southern most portal on the western façade of Bourges Cathedral is dedicated to St Ursinus (or Ursin), a 3rd century figure, the first Bishop of Bourges.

 

Portal Of The Last Judgement

Portal Of The Last Judgement

The central doorway was the last of the three portals, of Notre-Dame Cathedral Paris, to be decorated. Work started in about 1230 and consists of Christ in Majesty (showing the marks of the Crucifixion) with the Virgin Mary ⓘ and St John ⓘ on either side of him.

Portal Of The Virgin

This portal of the Virgin, at Notre Dame Paris, was sculpted between 1210 and 1220. The main scene show the Coronation of the Virgin, where Mary is being crowned Queen of heaven by an angel, whilst she sits on the same throne as Jesus. In the lintel below is Mary on her death bed surrounded by Jesus and the twelve aposles, two angels are about to lift her to heaven. In the lower lintel the old testament prophets are holding scrolls prophesying Christ.

Reliquary of St Taurin - Evreux

Made between 1240-1255 by a Paris goldsmith, to hold the relics of St Taurin, this shrine was commissioned by the abbot Gislebert de Saint-Martin ⓘ. The reliquary weighs 82kg and is made of bronze silver and gold leaf over a wooden chest.

 

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