Located 60 km north of Paris, Beauvais Cathedral symbolizes the apogee of Gothic architecture in the Middle Ages.
Ambitious and gravity-defying, Beauvais Cathedral holds the record for the highest ceiling in Gothic choir architecture.
In fact, it was the tallest monument in Christendom for four consecutive years, until its lantern tower tragically collapsed… A must-see if you’re a fan of Gothic buildings!
THE CATHEDRAL OF BEAUVAIS: A MUST-SEE!
Although it remains unfinished, the gigantism of Beauvais’s Cathedral Saint-Pierre is impressive.
Had sufficient funds been available to complete the nave (and the planned towers), it would undoubtedly be the tallest Gothic cathedral in Europe.
NORTH AND SOUTH TRANSEPT FACADES
The south façade is beautifully rendered in Gothic style.
The cathedral’s north doors feature carvings of the salamander (emblem of King François I) with the crown of France…
The large south door is decorated with the monogram of Francis I, with an F seated above the royal crown.
The north facade is very similar to its southern counterpart. It is less ornate, probably due to its lack of exposure to the sun.
Nevertheless, it features a remarkable Tree of Jesse.
Beauvais Cathedral doesn’t really have a clock tower. Today, a small bell tower with a slate roof sits atop the monument.
BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL AND ITS CHEVET
10 large, solid and elegant buttresses counterbalance the weight of the choir. They are 50 metres high.
To reinforce them, sturdy buttresses were added, as well as thick pillars to the north, against the openwork.
THE INTERIOR OF BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL
There’s something intriguing about Beauvais Cathedral. The church was never completed, yet today its dimensions are impressive.
Stepping inside, you can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the church’s vertical explosion.
Above the clerestory, almost 17 meters of glass windows let the light flood in. The ribbed arches exert minimal pressure on the pillars, facilitating their impressive elevation.
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL
Exceptional stained glass windows from the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries illuminate the cathedral’s interior.
The rose windows on the two transept crosspieces were added in the 16th century thanks to a donation from the Leprince de Beauvais family.
THE AMBULATORY AND ITS 7 RADIATING CHAPELS
The ambulatory has three levels, which is unusual for French Gothic cathedrals.
Above the arcades on the 1st level, the clerestory extends for 70m. Today, the clerestory is devoid of the bay windows in the outer wall, which were most probably bricked up in the 14th century to reinforce the wall.
The broken clerestory windows on the third level, located between two arches, support a nine-petal rosette.
Beauvais Cathedral’s ambulatory is remarkable not only for its 20 m-high walls, but also for its 7 radiating chapels.
Although they appear crowded, the graceful elegance of the pillars is noteworthy.
THE CHOIR
The pillars were thickened after the choir collapsed in the 13th century.
THE ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK OF BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL
The jewel inside the cathedral is the astronomical clock.This masterpiece was built between 1865 and 1868 by clockmaker Auguste Vérité.
It was inspired by a model of the Strasbourg clock. Animated by a play of light, the clock contains an extraordinary 90,000 components, including 68 timepieces!
The faces of the clock indicate the time, the tides and the movements of the stars.
On July 31, 1988, the clock stopped and the ESPACES organization was asked to repair it.
A team of five renowned French engineers restored Beauvais’ astronomical clock to working order.
The cathedral is also home to a beautiful medieval carillon clock. Dating from 1305, it is the oldest working clock in the world.
THE TAPESTRIES OF BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL
The remarkable tapestries decorating the choir date from the 15th and 17th centuries.
One of the most important examples of medieval tapestry can be found in Beauvais. Known as the “Life of Saint Peter and Saint Paul”, this 15th-century tapestry originally comprised 11 panels.
Today, only 6 remain, the others having been lost or separated, taken elsewhere in France or the United States.
Another 16th-century tapestry, hanging in Beauvais Cathedral, is entitled “Histoire Fabuleuse des Gaules”.
It depicts medieval towns, including Beauvais, in great detail.
THE TREASURE OF BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL
Beauvais Cathedral also houses some of the largest cathedral treasures in France, with a collection of over a thousand objects. Unlike other French cathedrals, Beauvais Cathedral’s treasure was not ransacked during the various
revolutions. That said, it is not possible for visitors to view the treasure.
THE CATHEDRAL CLOISTER
The cathedral cloister was created in the 15th century. The brick-filled, half-timbered galleries date from the late 17th century. The cloister leads to the chapter house, which was restored in 2012.
THE LIGHT SHOW
If you’re in Beauvais on a summer weekend or at Christmas, don’t miss the free “son et lumière” show entitled “Beauvais, la cathédrale infinie”.
The audiovisual show begins with still and video projections entitled “Horizons imaginaires” on the Quadrilatère, a modern exhibition hall next to the cathedral.
After this warm-up, the show moves on to the façade of St. Peter’s Cathedral, where it presents various scenes ranging from the construction of the church to “tapestry weaving” (the city still has a tapestry factory) and a “concert of statues”.
CONCLUSION
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre is hard to miss when you’re strolling through the center of Beauvais:
It’s located on rue Saint-Pierre, one block northwest of place Jean Hachette (the town’s main square).
So if you’re visiting Beauvais, don’t forget to see the cathedral – you won’t regret it.