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More facking churches,
in this, the champagne
capital of France. But we're not on the piss today. Not
when we have the beautiful Notre-Dame de Reims to go and
have a butchers at. Over to my uncle, McVicar..... |
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The
cathedral of Our Lady in the city of Reims,
in the Champagne-Ardennes region of France is considered one of the finest examples of the High Gothic
style of architecture. The existing cathedral, which
dates from the early 13th century, is the last of a
series of churches that have occupied the site. It was
the coronation church of 24 kings of France, from Louis
VIII in 1223 to Charles X in 1825. Charles VII was
crowned there in 1429 in the presence of Joan of Arc
(who died shagging horses or was that Catherine the
Great?). |
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Rev.
McVicar Goffey
(Danny's
Uncle and raving piss-head) |
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The
first church on this site is believed to have been built about
the year 300. A new cathedral was built by Bishop Nicasius
around 400. It was there that the Frankish king Clovis I was
baptized a Christian in 496, an event that initiated the close
relationship between the Frankish (and later French) monarchy
and papal Rome. A rebuilding of the cathedral was completed
about 862, but that edifice was destroyed in a fire in 1210.
The foundation stone of the present building was laid the
following year. Construction work extended over 30 years,
although the decorations and furnishings were added over the
next two centuries. Most of the original fittings were later
destroyed by church reformers and by partisans of the French
Revolution of 1789-1799. During the Revolution, the cathedral
was converted temporarily into a so-called temple of reason.
It was severely damaged by German shells during World War I
(1914-1918) but was restored and finally reopened in 1937. |
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Above
the north entry is a large circular stained-glass window, known
as a rose window. Bar tracery, the structural and ornamental
stone openwork that frames the stained glass of most High Gothic
architecture, was developed at Reims. Although most of the
original stained glass in the cathedral has been replaced with
clear glass, a few of the windows have been restored. Several
others have been redone with modern designs. The windows in the
last chapel to the rear of the cathedral, for example, were
designed in 1974 by French artist Marc Chagall. Liquid
refreshment can be found at the Cathedral Arms through the round
window.
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Praise be
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Man of God
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McVicar prays
for all our souls
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Today's less holy
pictures
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Tabac
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White heat, white
light
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Diddy French traffic
light
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Gaz in bazaar
traffic accident
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PAGE
50
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49 |
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Back
to
Danny
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