Troyes Cathedral

According to local church tradition, Christianity was carried to Troyes in the third century by the Bishop of Sens, Savinien, who sent Saint Potentien and Saint Sérotin to the town to establish the first church. The house where they lived is believed to have stood on the same site as the cathedral; and excavations in the 19th century found traces of Gallo-Roman building under the sanctuary.

The first church was rebuilt and enlarged in the 9th century, but it was badly damaged by the Norman invasions at the end of the same century. It was rebuilt by Bishop Milo through about 980 in the Romanesque style. Fragments of the sculptural decoration of this old church were found in 1864 and are displayed in the south collateral aisle of the present church.

In the 12th century, the Romanesque church was enlarged with the addition of a bell tower and a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The church was the site of the Council of Troyes that opened on 13 January 1129, hosted by Pope Honorius II.

In 1188, another fire ravaged a large part of the city and the cathedral, the remains of which are now located under the present one, was also seriously damaged. Starting in 1198, the bishops Garnier de Trainel and then Hervée (represented in a 13th century stained glass window in the choir) undertook the construction of one of the grandest and most beautiful cathedrals in France. The transept was built in 1260 and the first spans of the nave were installed starting in 1310, but the project was interrupted by the Hundred Years War (1337-1453).

In the 16th century, the final spans were placed in the old church. The west façade, a masterpiece by Martin Chambiges, a master mason from Paris, was finished in 1554, along with the base of the Saint-Pierre tower, which was not completed until 1634.

Erected over a period of more than 400 years, the cathedral illustrates the various stages of the Gothic styles: Pure, Rayonnant and Flamboyant. But the ensemble is very homogenous and admirable both inside and out. At 114 metres long and 28.5 meters high, it is one of the most famous in France owing to its elegance, the quality of its sculptures, its paintings, tapestries and especially its stained-glass windows. 

Yet it is also home to another jewel: its treasure collection. According to experts, it is one of the three or four most important treasures in France. The collection’s gems include a Byzantine purple ivory box dating from the 11th century. It was one of the objects looted from Constantinople during the Crusades in 1204. As well as a stunning collection of medieval enamel pieces, the treasure trove also features another gem: the shrine of Saint Bernard, including relics (his skull and a femur) of the spiritual father of the Knights Templar. Pilgrims come from across Europe to pray and reflect in front of the bones of the founder of Clairvaux Abbey. Other preciously conserved items include the chalice, crosier and pastoral ring of Monseigneur Hervée, the founding bishop of the cathedral.

Address

Rue de la Cité 30, Troyes, France

Details

Founded: 1198
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)