,the ,cathedral ,series  ,the following1
 each #a vol41 library #abmo1 cloth1    
gilt top profusely illustrated4 #b4ej   
,the ,cathedrals of ,northern ,france   
,,by ,,francis ,,miltoun  ,the          
,cathedrals of ,southern ,france ,,by   
,,francis ,,miltoun  ,the ,cathedrals of
 ,england ,,by ,,mary ,j4 ,,taber  ,the 
following1 each #a vol41 library #abmo1 
cloth1 gilt top1 profusely illustrated4 
,net1 #b4jj  ,the ,cathedrals and       
,churches of the ,rhine ,,by ,,francis  
,,miltoun  ,the ,cathedrals of ,northern
 ,spain ,,by ,,charles ,,rudy  ,l4 ,c4  
,,page  ,,company ,new ,england         
,building1 ,boston1 ,mass4              
,illustration3 ,,notre ,,dame 444 de    
,,noyon     ,,the ,,cathedrals ,,of     
,,northern ,,france  ,by ,,francis      
,,miltoun  ,,with ,,eighty              
,,illustrations1 ,,plans1 ,,and         
,,diagrams1  ,by ,,blanche ,mc,m,a,n,u,s
  ,illustration  ,,boston  ,l4 ,c4 ,page
 and ,company  ,,mdcccciiii  ,copyright1
 #aijc ,,by ,l4 ,c4 ,,page  ,,company   

7,,incorporated7  ,all rights reserved  
,published ,october1 #aijc  ,colonial   
,press  ,electrotyped and ,printed by   
,c4 ,h4 ,simonds  ,co4  ,boston1 ,mass41
 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4   ,,this ,,book ,,is       
,,dedicated ,,by ,,the ,,author ,,and   
,,artist ,,to ,,the ,,genius ,,of ,,race
 ,,which ,,made ,,possible ,,the        
,,existence ,,of ,,these ,,architectural
 ,,glories ,,of ,,france     ,,apologia 
,there are two ways of writing a book of
 travel3 to recount the journey itself  
or the results of it4 ,this is also the 
case with regard to any work which      
attempts to purvey topographical or     
historical information of a nature which
 is only to be gathered upon the spot2  
and1 when an additional side-light is   
shown by reason of the inclusion1 as in 
the present instance1 of the artistic   
and religious element1 it becomes more  
and more a question of judicious        
selection and arrangement of fact1      
rather than a mere hazarding of         
opinions1 which1 in many cases1 can be  

naught but conjecture1 and may1 in spite
 of any good claim to authoritativeness1
 be misunderstood or perverted to an    
inutile end1 or1 what is worse1         
swallowed in that oblivion where lies so
 much excellent thought1 which1 lacking 
either balance or timeliness1 has become
 stranded1 wrecked1 and practically lost
 to view because of its unappropriate   
and unattractive presentation4  ,to-day1
 the purely technical writer may have   
little hope of immortality unless he is 
broad-minded enough to take a cultivated
 interest in many matters outside the   
ken of his own particular sphere4 ,the  
best-equipped person living could not   
produce a new ,dictionary of            
,architecture1 and expect it to fill any
 niche that may be waiting for such a   
work1 unless he brought to bear1 in     
addition to his own special knowledge1  
something of the statistician1 something
 of the professed compiler1 and1 if     
possible1 a little of the not           
unimportant knowledge possessed by the  

maker and seller of books1 meaning--the 
publisher4 ,given these qualifications1 
it is likely that he will then produce  
an ensemble as far in advance of what   
otherwise might have been as is the     
modern printing machine1 as a factor in 
the dissemination of literature1 as     
compared with the ancient scribes       
working to the same end4  ,the          
sentimentalist and rhapsodist in words  
and ideas is a dwindling factor at the  
present day1 and a new presentation of  
fact is occasionally to be met with in  
the printed page4 ,the best book of     
travel within the knowledge of the      
writer1 and perhaps one of the slightest
 in bulk ever written in the ,english   
language1 is ,stevenson's ,inland       
,voyage--here were imagination1         
appreciation1 and a new way of seeing   
things1 and1 above all1 enthusiasm2 and 
this is the formula upon which doubtless
 many a future writer will build his    
reputation1 though he may never reach   
the significant heights expressed by    

,stevenson in the picturesque wording of
 his wish to be made ,bishop of ,noyon4 
,this apparent digression into a        
critical estimate of the making of books
 is but another expression of the       
justification of the writer in the      
attempt herein made to set forth in     
attractive and enduring form certain    
facts and realities with regard to the  
grand and glorious group of cathedrals  
of ,northern ,france4  ,they have       
appeared as demanding something more    
than the conventional guide-book1 or    
even technical estimates as to their    
perfections1 and the belief is that the 
gathering together1 after this fashion1 
of the contemporary information not     
always to the hand of the general reader
 presents an attraction as appealing and
 deserving of a place on the book-shelf 
as would be an avowed reference work1 or
 a volume made to sell on the strength  
of its bulk or ornateness1 or1 lacking  
these questionable attributes1 presented
 in the guise of a whilom text-book1 the

 sole province of which is to impart    
knowledge after a certain well          
recognized and set pattern4  ,it is     
believed that1 regardless of much that  
has been said and written anent the     
subject1 the fact remains that some     
considerable numbers of persons may be  
supposed to exist who would be glad of a
 further suggestion which would make    
possible an acquaintance with the       
cathedrals of ,france as a part of their
 own personal experience4 ,to all such1 
then1 it is to be hoped this book will  
appeal4  ,f4 ,m4     ,,contents         
,,page  ,introduction                   
#aa  ,,part ,i4 ,,transition ,,examples 
,i4 ,introductory                       
#da  ,,ii4 ,notre ,dame de ,laon        
#dc  ,,iii4 ,notre ,dame de ,noyon      
#di  ,,iv4 ,notre ,dame de ,soissons    
#ed   ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,grand ,,group
  ,i4 ,introductory                     
#fa  ,,ii4 ,notre ,dame d',amiens       
#fd  ,,iii4 ,st4 ,pierre de ,beauvais   
#gj  ,,iv4 ,notre ,dame de ,rouen       

#gi  ,v4 ,basilique de ,st4 ,denis      
#ic  ,,vi4 ,notre ,dame de ,paris       
#aja  ,,vii4 ,st4 ,julien2 ,le ,mans    
#aac  ,,viii4 ,notre ,dame de ,chartres 
#abc  ,,ix4 ,notre ,dame de ,reims      
#acb   ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,cathedrals 
,,of ,,the ,,loire  ,i4 ,introductory   
#adg  ,,ii4 ,st4 ,croix d',orleans      
#aej  ,,iii4 ,st4 ,louis de ,blois      
#aef  ,,iv4 ,st ,gatien de ,tours       
#afc  ,v4 ,st4 ,maurice d',angers       
#agc  ,,vi4 ,st4 ,pierre de ,nantes     
#ahc   ,,part ,,iv4 ,,central ,,france  
,i4 ,st4 ,etienne d',auxerre            
#aia  ,,ii4 ,st4 ,etienne de ,bourges   
#aii  ,,iii4 ,st4 ,cyr and ,st4         
,juliette de ,nevers                    
#bji  ,,iv4 ,st4 ,mammes de ,langres    
#bah  ,v4 ,notre ,dame d',auxonne       
#bbj   ,,part ,v4 ,,east ,,of ,,paris   
,i4 ,introductory                       
#bbc  ,,ii4 ,notre ,dame de             
,boulogne-sur-,mer                      
#bca  ,,iii4 ,notre ,dame de ,cambrai   
#bcd  ,,iv4 ,notre ,dame de ,st4 ,omer  

#bcg  ,v4 ,st4 ,vaast d',arras          
#bdb  ,,vi4 ,st4 ,etienne de ,toul      
#bdg  ,,vii4 ,st4 ,etienne1             
,chalons-sur-,marne                     
#bea  ,,viii4 ,st4 ,di                  
#bed  ,,ix4 ,st4 ,lazare d',autun       
#beg  ,x4 ,st4 ,bnigne de ,dijon        
#bfb  ,,xi4 ,notre ,dame de ,senlis     
#bff  ,,xii4 ,st4 ,etienne de ,meaux    
#bgj  ,,xiii4 ,st4 ,pierre de ,troyes   
#bgd  ,,xiv4 ,st4 ,etienne de ,sens     
#bgi   ,,part ,,vi4 ,,western ,,normandy
 ,,and ,,brittany  ,i4 ,introductory    
#bhe  ,,ii4 ,notre ,dame d',evreux      
#bhh  ,,iii4 ,notre ,dame d',alenon     
#bif  ,,iv4 ,st4 ,pierre de ,lisieux    
#cja  ,v4 ,notre ,dame de ,sez          
#cje  ,,vi4 ,notre ,dame de ,bayeux     
#caj  ,,vii4 ,notre ,dame de ,st4 ,lo   
#cae  ,,viii4 ,notre ,dame de ,coutances
                                        
#cba  ,,ix4 ,st4 ,pierre d',avranches   
#cbf  ,x4 ,st4 ,sol1 ,dol-de-,bretagne  
#cbi  ,,xi4 ,st4 ,malo and ,st4 ,servan 
#cce  ,,xii4 ,trguier                   

#cci  ,,xiii4 ,st4 ,brieuc              
#cdb  ,,xiv4 ,st4 ,pol de ,leon         
#cde  ,,xv4 ,st4 ,corentin de ,quimper  
#cdh  ,,xvi4 ,vannes                    
#cea   ,,appendices  ,i4 ,the           
,architectural ,divisions of ,france    
#cec  ,,ii4 ,a ,list of the ,departments
 of ,france                             
#cef  ,,iii4 ,the ,church in ,france    
#cei  ,,iv4 ,a ,list of the ,larger     
,french ,churches     ,which ,were at   
,one ,time ,cathedrals                  
#cfb  ,v4 ,chronology of the ,chief     
,styles and ,examples of ,church        
,building    #cfe  ,,vi4 ,dimensions and
 ,chronology                            
#cff  ,,vii4 ,the ,french ,kings from   
,charlemagne ,onward                    
#chc  ,,viii4 ,measurements of the      
,cathedrals at ,amiens and ,salisbury   
#chd  ,,ix4 ,french ,metres ,reduced to 
,english ,feet                          
#che  ,x4 ,a ,brief ,glossary of        
,architectural ,terms                   
#chf     ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations    

,,page  ,notre ,dame de ,noyon          
,frontispiece  ,notre ,dame de ,laon    
#dc  ,notre ,dame de ,noyon             
#dg  ,notre ,dame d',amiens             
#fd  ,st4 ,pierre de ,beauvais          
#gj  ,notre ,dame de ,rouen             
#gg  ,basilique de ,st4 ,denis          
#ia  ,oriflamme of ,st4 ,denis          
#ajj  ,notre ,dame de ,paris            
#aja  ,notre ,dame de ,paris from the   
,river                                  
#ajg  ,st4 ,julien2 ,le ,mans           
#aaa  ,notre ,dame de ,chartres         
#abc  ,notre ,dame de ,reims            
#acb  ,st4 ,croix d',orleans            
#aej  ,st4 ,louis de ,blois             
#aef  ,st4 ,gatien de ,tours            
#afa  ,flying ,buttress1 ,st4 ,gatien de
 ,tours                                 
#agj  ,st4 ,maurice d',angers           
#aga  ,st4 ,pierre de ,nantes           
#ahc  ,st4 ,etienne d',auxerre          
#aia  ,st4 ,etienne de ,bourges         
#aig  ,st4 ,cyr and ,st4 ,juliette de   
,nevers                                 

#bji  ,st4 ,mammes de ,langres          
#bah  ,nancy                            
#bbg  ,boulogne1 ,st4 ,omer1 ,arras     
#bbi  ,notre ,dame de ,cambrai          
#bcf  ,st4 ,etienne de ,toul            
#bdg  ,st4 ,etienne1 ,chalons-sur-,marne
                                        
#bea  ,st4 ,di                          
#bed  ,st4 ,lazare d',autun             
#beg  ,st4 ,bnigne de ,dijon            
#bfb  ,notre ,dame de ,senlis           
#bff  ,st4 ,etienne de ,meaux           
#bgj  ,st4 ,pierre de ,troyes           
#bgd  ,st4 ,etienne de ,sens            
#bgi  ,notre ,dame d',evreux            
#bhi  ,window ,framing--,evreux         
#bie  ,notre ,dame d',alenon            
#bif  ,st4 ,pierre de ,lisieux          
#bii  ,notre ,dame de ,sez              
#cje  ,notre ,dame de ,bayeux           
#caj  ,notre ,dame de ,st4 ,lo          
#cae  ,notre ,dame de ,coutances        
#cai  ,st4 ,pierre d',avranches         
#cbf  ,column of ,st4 ,pierre           
d',avranches                            

#cbh  ,st4 ,samson1 ,dol-de-,bretagne   
#cbi  ,st4 ,malo and ,st4               
,servan4--,trguier                      
#ccc  ,st4 ,brieuc                      
#cdb  ,st4 ,corentin de ,quimper        
#cdh  ,notre ,dame d',amiens 7diagram7  
#cff  ,map of ,angers                   
#cfg  ,st4 ,etienne de ,bourges         
7diagram7                               
#cgj  ,notre ,dame de ,laon 7diagram7   
#cgb  ,st4 ,julien1 le ,mans 7diagram7  
#cgc  ,map of ,nantes                   
#cgd  ,notre ,dame de ,noyon 7diagram7  
#cge  ,notre ,dame de ,paris 7diagram7  
#cgf  ,notre ,dame de ,reims 7diagram7  
#cgg  ,flying ,buttresses1 ,reims       
#cgg  ,notre ,dame de ,rouen 7diagram7  
#cgh  ,basilique de ,st4 ,denis         
7diagrams7                              
#chj  ,map of ,tours                    
#cha  ,charles ,,vii4                   
#chc  ,ground ,plan                     
#chf  ,cross ,section                   
#chg  ,interior                         
#chh  ,cross ,section                   

#chi     ,the ,cathedrals of ,northern  
,france     ,,introduction   ,an attempt
 to enumerate the architectural         
monuments of ,france is not possible    
without due consideration being given to
 the topographical divisions of the     
country1 which1 so far as the early     
population and the expression of their  
arts and customs is concerned1 naturally
 divides itself into two grand divisions
 of influences1 widely dissimilar4      
,historians1 generally1 agree that the  
country which embraces the ,frankish    
influences in the north1 as distinct    
from that where are spoken the romance  
languages1 finds its partition somewhere
 about a line drawn from the mouth of   
the ,loire to the ,swiss lakes4         
,territorially1 this approaches an equal
 division1 with the characteristics of  
architectural forms well nigh as equally
 divided4 ,indeed1 ,fergusson1 who in   
his general estimates and valuations is 
seldom at fault1 thus divides it3--on a 
line which follows the valley of the    

,loire to a point between ,tours and    
,orleans1 then southwesterly to ,lyons1 
and thence along the valley of the ,rhne
 to ,geneva4  ,with such a              
justification1 then1 it is natural that 
some arbitrary division should be made  
in arranging the subject matter of a    
volume which treats1 in part only1 of a 
country or its memorials2 even though   
the influences of one section may not   
only have lapped over into the other1   
but1 as in certain instances1 extended  
far beyond4 ,as the peoples were divided
 in speech1 so were they in their manner
 of building1 and the most thoroughly   
consistent and individual types were in 
the main confined to the environment of 
their birth4 ,a notable exception is    
found in ,brittany1 where is apparent a 
generous admixture of style which does  
not occur in the churches of the first  
rank2 referring to the imposing         
structures of the ,isle de ,france and  
its immediate vicinity4 ,the ,grand     
,cathedrals of this region are1 perhaps1

 most strongly impressed upon the mind  
of whoever takes something more than a  
superficial interest in the subject as  
the type which embodies the loftiest    
principles of ,gothic forms1 and1 as    
such1 they are perhaps best remembered  
by that very considerable body of       
persons known as intelligent observers4 
,the strongest influences at work in the
 north from the twelfth century onward  
have been in favour of the ,gothic or   
pointed styles1 whilst1 in the south1   
civic and ecclesiastical architecture   
alike were of a manifest ,byzantine or  
,romanesque tendency4 ,no better        
illustration of this is possible than to
 recall the fact that1 when the builders
 of the fifteenth century undertook to  
complete that astoundingly impressive   
choir at ,beauvais1 they sought to rival
 in size and magnificence its namesake  
at ,rome1 which1 under the care of the  
,pontiff himself1 was then being        
projected4 ,thus it was that this       
thoroughly ,gothic structure of the     

north was to stand forth as the         
indicator of local influences1 as       
contrasted with the ,italian design and 
plans of the ,st4 ,peter's of the south4
  ,a discussion of the merits of any    
territorial claims as to the inception  
of what is commonly known as ,gothic    
architecture1 under which name1 for the 
want of a more familiar term1 it shall  
be referred to herein1 is quite apart   
from the purport of this volume1 and1 as
 such1 it were best ignored4 ,the       
statement1 however1 may be made that it 
would seem clearly to be the development
 of a northern influence which first    
took shape after a definite form in a   
region safely comprehended as lying     
within the confines of northeastern     
,france1 the ,netherlands1 and the      
northern ,rhine ,provinces4 ,much has   
been written on this debatable subject  
and doubtless will continue to be1      
either as an arrow shot into the air by 
some wary pedant1 or an equally         
unconvincing statement1 without proof1  

of some mere follower in the footsteps  
of an illustrious1 but behind the times1
 expert4 ,it matters not1 as a mere     
detail1 whether it was brought from the 
,east in imperfect form by the          
,crusaders1 and only received its       
development at the hands of some        
ingenious northerner1 or not4 ,its      
development was certainly rapid and sure
 in the great group which we know to-day
 in northern ,france1 and1 if proof were
 wanted1 the existing records in stone  
ought to be sufficiently convincing to  
point out the fact that here ,medival   
,gothic architecture received its first 
and most perfect development4 ,the      
,primaire3 the development of the style 
finding its best example at ,paris4 ,the
 ,secondaire3 the ,perfectionnement at  
,reims1 and its ,apogee at ,amiens4 ,the
 ,tertiaire3 practically the beginning  
of the decadence1 in ,st4 ,ouen at      
,rouen1 only a shade removed from the   
debasement which soon followed4 ,as to  
the merits or demerits of the           

contemporary structures of other        
nations1 that also would be obviously of
 comparative unimportance herein except 
so far as a comparison might once and   
again be made to accentuate values4     
,the earliest art triumphs of the       
,french may well be said to have been in
 the development and perfectionnement of
 ,medival 7,gothic7 architecture4 ,its  
builders planned amply1 wisely1 and     
well1 and in spite of the interruptions 
of wars1 of invasions1 and of           
revolutions1 there is nowhere to be     
found upon the earth's surface so many  
characteristic attributes of ,medival   
,gothic architecture as is to be        
observed in this land1 extending from   
the ,romanesque types of ,frjus1        
,prigueux and ,angoulme to that         
classical degeneration commonly called  
the ,renaissance1 a more offensive      
example of which could hardly be found  
than in the conglomerate structure of   
,st4 ,etienne du ,mont at ,paris1 or the
 more modern and1 if possible1 even more

 ugly ,cathedral ,churches at ,arras1   
,cambrai1 or ,rennes in the north4      
,there may be attractive ,italian types 
in existence out of ,italy2 but the fact
 is that1 unless they are undoubted     
copies of a thoroughly consistent style 
to the very end1 they impress one as    
being out of place in a land where the  
heights of its own native style are so  
exalted4  ,gothic1 regardless of the    
fact as to whether it be the severe and 
unornamental varieties of the ,low      
,countries or the exaggerations of the  
most ornately flamboyant style1 appears 
not only to please the casual and       
average observer1 but the thorough      
student of ecclesiastical architecture  
as well4 ,it has come to be the accepted
 form throughout the world of what is   
best representative of the thought and  
purpose for which a great church should 
stand4  ,with the ,renaissance we have  
not a little to do1 when considering the
 cathedrals of ,france4 ,seldom1 if     
ever1 in the sixteenth century did the  

builder or even the restorer add aught  
but ,italian accessories where any      
considerable work was to be             
accomplished4 ,why1 or how1 the         
,renaissance ever came into being it is 
quite impossible for any one to say1    
sans doubt1 as is the first rudimentary 
invention of ,gothic itself4 ,perhaps it
 was but the outcome of a desire for    
something different1 if not new2 but in 
the process the taste of the people fell
 to a low degree4 ,architecture may be  
said to have been all but divorced from 
life1 and1 while the fabric is a dead   
thing of itself1 it is a very living and
 human expression of the tendencies of  
an era4 ,the ,renaissance sought to     
revive painting and sculpture and to    
incorporate them into architectural     
forms4 ,whether after a satisfactory    
manner or not appears to have been no   
concern with the revivers of a style    
which was entirely unsuited in its      
original form to a northern latitude4   
,that which answered for the needs and  

desires of a southern race could not be 
boldly transplanted into another        
environment and live without undergoing 
an evolution which takes time1 a fact   
not disproven by later events4  ,the    
,italians themselves were the undoubted 
cause of the debasement of the classical
 style1 evidences having crept into that
 country nearly a hundred years before  
the least vestiges were known in either 
,france or ,germany1 the ,netherlands1  
or ,england1 and which1 though          
traceable1 had left but slight impress  
in ,spain4 ,it is doubtless not far     
wrong to attribute its introduction into
 ,france as the outcome of the          
wanderings in ,italy of ,charles        
,,viii41 in the latter years of the     
,,xv4 century4 ,as a result of this it  
is popularly supposed that it was       
introduced into the domestic            
architecture of the nobles who had      
accompanied the king4 ,here it found    
perhaps its most satisfying expression2 
in those magnificent chteaux of the     

,loire1 and the neighbourhood of ,tours 
and ,blois1 ever a subject for          
sentimental praise4 ,one would not seek 
to pass condemnation upon the           
application of revived classic features 
where they were but the expression of an
 individual taste1 as in a chateau whose
 owner so chose to build and embellish  
it4 ,certainly no more splendid edifices
 of their kind are known than the       
magnificent establishments at ,blois1   
,chenonceau1 ,chambord1 or ,chaumont4   
,the style appears1 however1 out of     
place2 an admixture meaningless in      
itself and in its application when1 with
 a ,gothic foundation bequeathed them1  
builders sought to incorporate into a   
cathedral such palpable inconsistencies 
as was frequently done4  ,the building  
of the chteaux was perhaps the first    
anti-,gothic step in ,france and proved 
to be an influence which spread not     
slowly1 as to decorative detail at      
least1 and soon of itself established a 
decided non-,gothic type4  ,it was but  

natural that the cathedral builders     
should have followed to some extent this
 new influence4 ,the ,church was ever   
seeking to strengthen its popularity1   
the bishops ensconced themselves in     
their cathedral cities as snugly as did 
a feudal lord in his castle1 and their  
emulation of wealth outside of the      
,church was but an effort to keep their 
status on a plane with that of the other
 power which also demanded allegiance of
 the people4 ,it is to be regretted that
 they did not pass this manifestation   
by1 or at least not encumbered an       
otherwise consistent ,gothic fabric with
 superimposed meaningless detail4 ,such 
decorative embellishments as are        
represented by the tomb of ,louis ,,xii4
 at ,st4 ,denis1 and the tombs of the   
cardinals at ,rouen1 may be considered  
characteristic1 though they bear earlier
 dates by some twenty years than the    
south portal of ,beauvais1 which is     
thoroughly the best of ,gothic1 or ,st4 
,maclou at ,rouen1 which1 though highly 

florid1 is without a trace of           
anti-,gothic4 ,the extreme 7though not a
 cathedral church7 may be seen at ,st4  
,etienne du ,mont1 wherein the effort is
 made to incorporate large masses of    
pseudo-classical decoration with        
,gothic1 and1 alas1 with sad effect4    
,for the most part1 the ,gothic         
cathedrals of ,france1 as such1 while   
closely related to each other in their  
design and arrangements1 have little to 
do with those which lie without the     
confines of the country1 either in      
general features or in detail4 ,the type
 is distinctively one which stands by   
its own perfections4 ,in size1 while in 
many instances not having the length of 
nave of several in ,england1 they have  
nearly always an equal1 if not a        
greater1 width and an almost invariably 
greater height1 though not equal in     
superficial area to ,st4 ,peter's in    
,italy1 the ,dom at ,cologne1 or even   
the cathedral at ,seville in ,spain4    
,such ,romanesque types as are to be    

seen to the northward of the ,loire are 
mostly found in the smaller churches of 
,brittany1 while the early transition   
type1 so familiar throughout the        
,netherlands1 is1 in ,france1 usually   
seen in the neighbourhood of the        
frontiers of the ,low ,countries4  ,les 
,grandes ,cathdrales of the north are   
distinctly those of ,paris1 ,amiens1    
,reims1 ,rouen1 ,beauvais1 and          
,chartres2 and it is to them that       
reference must continually be made2     
while the severely plain transitory     
types of ,noyon or ,soissons1 or the    
more effective development of ,laon1 and
 the flamboyant structures of ,troyes   
and ,nantes1 at least lean toward the   
decadence4  ,the difficulty of assigning
 ranks to these monumental cathedrals is
 made the greater by reason of the fact 
that to-day it is with but one people   
that we have to reckon1 so far as their 
temperament and environment is          
concerned4 ,since feudal times the      
movement has ever been toward one       

nation1 one people1 and one view1       
different from that presented in the    
middle ages4  ,for centuries after the  
break of ,roman power it had been mostly
 one local influence against another    
which prevented perfect cohesion to any 
national spirit1 and thus it was that   
the tendencies of the cathedral         
builders1 though ,roman as to their     
teaching and religion1 and doubtless1 in
 many instances1 with regard to their   
birth as well1 followed no special style
 until the era of ,gothic development4  
,unconsciously1 transitory types crept  
in1 until suddenly throughout northern  
,europe there bloomed forth within less 
than a century of time the so-called    
,gothic in all its splendour1 and with  
scarce a century between the            
commencement and the completion of some 
of the most notable of the group4 ,the  
,romanesque types which still lingered  
in ,brittany1 though well worthy of     
special consideration to-day1 are       
unimportant and in a way insignificant  

when compared with the grand group4  ,to
 most of us it will be impossible to    
conjure up any more significant thought 
with regard to medival church           
architecture than that fostered by the  
memories of acquaintanceship with these 
examples of north ,france2 an opinion   
which is further strengthened when it is
 also recalled that they are            
representative of the first really      
national artistic expression4 ,for this 
reason alone1 if for no other1 the hasty
 critics who have so handily claimed    
precedence elsewhere1 might profitably  
review the facts of the circumstance    
which led to so universal an adoption of
 the full-blown style in the twelfth and
 thirteenth centuries4  ,the ,romanesque
 peoples were confined southwards of    
mid-,france at the time of the          
withdrawal of the ,roman legions1 while1
 in the north1 the conquering ,franks   
sought to wipe out every vestige of     
their past influence2 hence it may be   
considered that the new manner of       

building had everything in favour of its
 speedy growth4 ,it was thus definitely 
assured of a warm welcome1 and1         
following in the footsteps of ,clovis   
himself1 the rulers were more than      
willing to aid what they believed might 
be a strengthening influence1           
politically1 as well as morally4  ,the  
style may be justly said to be a natural
 and growthful expression of a race1 and
 more significant than all else is the  
fact that nowhere1 not even on the      
,rhine1 which with northern ,france     
claims the origin of the style1 is to be
 found any single example equalling in  
any like measure the perfections of ,les
 ,grandes ,cathdrales ,franaises1 though
 it be recalled that in many instances  
the ,german buildings were planned and  
often erected by ,french architects and 
artisans4  ,among the two thousand or   
more ,monuments ,historiques paternally 
cared for by the ,french government and 
under the direct control of the         
,ministry of ,public ,instruction and   

the ,beaux ,arts1 none are of the       
relative importance1 historically or    
artistically1 of the ,grand ,cathedrals4
 ,certain objects1 classed as megalithic
 and antique remains1 may be the        
connecting links between the past and   
the present by which the antiquarian    
weaves the threads of his historical    
lore2 but neither these nor the reliques
 which have been dug from the ground or 
untombed from later constructive        
elements1 all of which are generously   
included in the general scheme by the   
,department of ,beaux ,arts1 which has  
provided a fund for their preservation  
and care1 have one tithe of the         
appealing interest which these great    
churches bespeak on behalf of the       
contemporary life of the times in which 
they were built1 reflecting as they do  
many correlated events1 and forming1 in 
the interweaving of the history of their
 inception and construction1 an epitome 
of well-nigh all the contemporary events
 of their environment1 as well as the   

greater parts which they may have played
 in general affairs of state4  ,the best
 example of a part so played is that of 
the cathedral at ,reims1 which saw the  
crowning within its walls of nearly     
every monarch of ,france from the time  
of ,philippe ,augustus 7#aagc7 to that  
of ,charles ,x4 7#ahbc74 ,the monarchs  
of ,france1 a long and picturesque line1
 have ever sought to ally the ,church on
 their side1 and right well they have   
been served1 not ignoring1 of course1   
certain notable lapses4 ,in the main1   
however1 the rulers and the people      
alike1 whatever may have been the       
periodical dissensions1 combined the    
forces which made possible the          
projection and erection of these noble  
examples of an art which1 in the ,gothic
 forms at least1 here came to its       
greatest and most interesting phase4    
,invasion1 revolution1 and the stress of
 weather and time1 all played their part
 in the general desecrations which      
sooner or later followed2 far the most  

serious of these visible damages        
reflected upon us to-day being the      
malpractices occurring at the           
,revolution1 whether at the hands of a  
sans culotte or of the most respectable 
of bourgeois1 led away by the excitement
 of revolt4 ,the depredations were      
irreparable2 they razed1 burned1 or     
ruthlessly shattered shrines1 statues1  
or even reliquaries1 as at ,reims1 where
 the ,sainted ,ampulla1 which contained 
the miraculous oil brought by a dove    
from heaven1 now preserved in           
reconstructed fragments in the sacristy1
 was dashed to pieces in a fury of      
uncontrollable wrath4  ,the paucity of  
sculptured decoration in certain places 
only too plainly designed for it is1    
too1 frequently painfully apparent4     
,such sculptured decoration and glass as
 were easily to hand met with perhaps   
the most ready spoliation1 while here   
and there1 from some miraculous reason1 
a gem was left entire1 though likely    
enough in a bruised and shattered       

setting4  ,this is what befell most of  
the great churches1 and1 for this       
reason1 any work treating of these      
architectural glories of ,france must   
make due allowance in hazarding opinions
 as to the merit or lack of merit of any
 particular example as it now exists1 as
 compared with what it may have been as 
it once was1 or had it been completed in
 accordance with the original design4   
,in local and cathedral archives much   
valuable and interesting information    
exists1 treating in this very manner    
such embellishments as may to-day be    
lacking2 but unfortunately such facts   
are often buried in a mass of other     
irrelevant material which would make its
 discovery unusually difficult to any   
but a very learned local antiquarian4   
,in this same connection1 also1 there is
 a dearth of illustrative material which
 can be depended upon as to minuti or   
accuracy of detail4 ,hence it is        
possible to deal only with such general 
facts as may be supported by the best   

contemporary information based upon the 
researches of others4 ,it may be well to
 note here1 however1 a fact which is    
often overlooked1 namely1 that the      
written records of ,france are not only 
very complete and exhaustive1 but1 with 
respect to ,paris itself1 to cite an    
example1 the documentary history1       
consecutive and exact1 from the time of 
the decline of ,roman power is preserved
 intact1--a record which is perhaps not 
so true of any other large city in      
,europe4  ,in dealing with the          
cathedrals of the north1 territorially1 
we have to consider those examples which
 are generally accepted as being all    
that a cathedral church should be4 ,of  
the first rank are those gathered not   
far from the confines of the medival    
,isle of ,france4 ,they too1 are best   
representative of the true ,gothic      
spirit1 while the southernmost examples1
 those of ,dijon and ,besanon1 are of   
manifest ,romanesque or ,byzantine      
conception4 ,each1 too1 is somewhat     

reminiscent of the early ,german manner 
of building1 the latter in respect to   
the double apse1 which is often found   
across the ,rhine1 but seldom seen in   
,france4 ,the most northerly of all is  
at ,st4 ,omer1 where are the somewhat   
battered remains of a satisfactory      
,gothic cathedral1 although ,amiens1 not
 far to the south1 is perhaps the ideal 
cathedral when considered from a general
 point merely4 ,for the western         
representative1 a line running due west 
from ,paris almost into the ,atlantic   
finds at ,quimper1 a small port fifteen 
miles from the sea1 the ,cathedral of   
,st4 ,corentin1 which1 though not as    
lofty1 is more of the manner of building
 of the ,isle of ,france than one might 
suppose would be the case here in this  
outpost of ,brittany1 where are found so
 many evidences of ,romanesque          
influences1 retained long after they had
 been given over elsewhere4  ,such1     
then1 are the extremes of latitude and  
of architectural style which combine to 

give variety to the interest which is   
always aroused by the contemplation of  
the masterworks of any of the arts1     
where outside and contiguous influences 
have something in common therewith4  ,as
 a type to admire1 there is no doubt but
 that the cathedral that possesses an   
apsidal termination of the easterly or  
choir end1 as is nearly the universal   
custom in ,france1 has charms and       
beauties which may be latent1 but which 
are simply winning1 when it comes to    
picturing the same structure with the   
squared-off ends so common in ,england4 
,it was ,stevenson1 was it not1 who     
wrote of the satisfaction with which one
 always looks upon the east end of a    
,french cathedral1 flanging out as it   
often does in sweeping terraces1 and    
settling down broadly upon the earth as 
though it were meant to stay4 ,certainly
 nothing of the sort is to be more      
admired than the rare view of the choir 
buttresses of ,notre ,dame at ,paris1   
likened unto kneeling angels with       

half-spread wings2 the delicate and     
symmetrical choir buttresses of ,amiens2
 the sheer fall of ,beauvais2 or the    
triply effective termination of the     
one-time cathedral of ,noyon1 which     
falls away in three gracefully gentle   
slopes to the ground4 ,again            
,stevenson's power as a descriptive     
writer lingers in our memory4 ,he says1 
of no cathedral in particular1 where    
else is to be found so many elegant     
proportions growing one out of the      
other1 and all together in one8444      
,though ,i have heard a considerable    
variety of sermons1 ,i have never yet   
heard one that was so expressive as a   
cathedral4 ',tis the best preacher      
itself1 preaches day and night1 not only
 telling you of man's art and           
aspirations in the past1 but convicting 
your own soul of ardent sympathies2 or  
rather1 like all good preachers1 it sets
 you preaching to yourself1--and every  
man is his own doctor of divinity in the
 last resort4  ,to best estimate the    

charms and values of these architectural
 monuments one should consider2 first1  
the history and topography of their     
environment1--i4 e4 as to why and when  
they may have been planned and built2   
secondly1 their personality1 as it      
were1--who were their founders1 their   
patrons1 their bishops2 thirdly1 the    
functions in which they may have        
partaken1 any significant events which  
may have passed within their walls or   
centred within their sees2 and fourthly1
 the artistic beauties of their fabric  
and its embellishments4  ,in most cases 
all of these values are so interwoven   
and indissolubly linked with the growth 
of the structure itself from its very   
earliest foundations that it is hardly  
possible to detail this information in  
true chronological order4 ,the          
picturesque and romantic elements1 of   
which there is not a little2 the sordid 
and baneful1 of which we may wish there 
were less2 and the splendid ceremonials 
of ,church and ,state2 all go to make up

 a chronicle which no account1 of even a
 special nature1 could afford to        
neglect4  ,the picturesque elements of  
the conversion and baptism of ,clovis by
 ,st4 ,remi at ,reims in #dif1 where1 on
 the site of the present cathedral1 he  
was adjured to revere that which thou   
didst burn and burn that which thou     
didst revere1 and the crowning on the   
same spot of ,charles ,,vii4 in #adbi   
through the efforts of the ,maid1 well  
represent these phases4 ,the meanness   
and the unjustness of her later trial   
and condemnation in the ,abbey ,church  
of ,st4 ,ouen at ,rouen is another4 ,the
 affairs of state consist chiefly of the
 coronation ceremonies which mostly took
 place at ,reims1 and present a splendid
 record4 ,of the monarchs from #aagc    
onwards who were not here crowned1      
,henry ,,iv4 was crowned at ,chartres2  
,napoleon ,i41 at ,paris2 ,louis        
,philippe1 ,louis ,,xviii41 and         
,napoleon ,,iii4 were not crowned at    
all4  ,throughout this continuity of    

state events these great churches were  
performing their natural functions of   
the dissemination of the ,word4         
,jealousies and bickerings took place1  
to be sure1 but in the main there was   
harmony1 if rivalry did exist2 else it  
were not possible that so many of these 
splendid monuments would have endured to
 remind us of their past as well as     
present existence4  ,certain of the sees
 were merged into greater ones1 and     
others were abandoned altogether4 ,in   
this connection there is a curious      
circumstance with regard to the one-time
 ,bishop of ,bethlem1 who1 driven from  
the ,holy ,land1 was given a see at     
,clamecy1 which see comprehended only   
the village in which he resided4 ,what  
remains of the former cathedral is now  
an adjunct to a hotel4 ,the             
rearrangement of political divisions of 
,france after the ,revolution was the   
further excuse for establishing but one 
diocese to a department1 until to-day   
there are but eighty-four sees1         

administered by sixty-seven bishops and 
seventeen archbishops4  ,the itinerary  
of the conventional tour of the         
,continent usually keeps well to the    
beaten track1 and so does the           
conventional traveller4 ,he does not    
always get over to ,reims1 and often    
does not stop en route at ,amiens2      
seldom visits ,beauvais1 and1 unless he 
specially sets out to tour ,brittany1 a 
popular enough amusement of the lean of 
purse in these days1 knows little of the
 unique charms of ,trguier1 ,quimper1 or
 even of ,le ,mans1 with its sublime    
choir1 or of ,evreux4 ,as for even a    
nodding acquaintance with ,noyon or     
,soissons1 two of the most convincingly 
beautiful and impressive transitory     
types1 they might as well be in the     
wilds of ,kamchatka1 though they are    
both situated in a region well travelled
 on all sides2 while ,laon1 not far     
distant1 is hardly known at all1 except 
as a way station en route to            
,switzerland4 ,the cathedrals of        

mid-,france are1 it is to be feared1    
even less known than would on first     
thoughts seem probable4 ,a certain      
amount of sentimentality attaches itself
 to the chteaux of the ,loire1 and some 
acquaintance with their undeniable      
pleasing attributes is the portion of   
most travellers2 but1 again1 such       
cathedral cities as ,besanon1 ,nantes1  
and ,langres are off the well-worn road1
 and their cathedrals might be myths so 
far as a general acquaintance with them 
is concerned2 while the splendid        
churches of ,bourges1 ,nevers1 and      
,autun are likewise practically unknown 
to the casual traveller4  ,tours1       
,orleans1 and ,chartres alone appear to 
be the only recognized representatives  
of this section of ,france which have   
hitherto attracted due attention4  ,with
 the southland this volume does not     
deal2 that is a subject to be considered
 quite by itself1--and significantly1   
more real interest has been shown with  
respect to the architectural monuments  

of ,avignon1 ,arles1 ,nmes1 ,le ,puy1   
,prigueux1 ,carcassonne1 and ,poitiers  
than to those of the ,midi4 ,is it that 
the days of cheap travel and specially  
conducted tours1 when ten or fifteen    
guineas will take one to the ,swiss or  
,italian lakes1 or e'en to ,rome and    
,florence1 has caused this apparent     
neglect of the country lying between8   
,certainly our forefathers travelled    
more wisely1 but then prices and means  
of locomotion were on quite a different 
scale in those days1 and not            
infrequently they were obliged to       
confine their travels and observations  
to more restricted areas4  ,perhaps the 
most lucid arrangement of architectural 
species is that given by ,de ,caumont's 
,abcdaire d',architecture1 which divides
 the country ethnologically into        
,brittany2 ,normandy2 ,flanders1        
including ,artois and ,picardy2 ,central
 ,france 7the ,isle of ,france1         
,champagne1 ,orleanois1 ,main1 ,anjou1  
,touraine1 and ,berri72 and ,burgundy1  

comprehending the former divisions of   
,franche ,comt1 ,lorraine1 ,alsace 7now 
,belfort71 ,nivernois1 ,bourbonnois1 and
 ,lyonnois4 ,of the above divisions1    
only that of the ,isle of ,france with  
,la ,brie was originally held by the    
,crown4 ,the political divisions        
throughout ,france now number           
eighty-seven departments1 taking their  
names from the principal topographical  
features1 and replacing in #agij the    
thirty-two medival provinces1 each of   
which had their own characteristics of  
social and political life1 and of which 
each in turn progressed1 stagnated1 or  
fell backward according to local or     
periodical conditions4 ,both the arts of
 peace and of war have left an          
ineradicable impress4 ,in the thirteenth
 century the various provinces became   
welded together into one perfect whole  
under ,philippe ,augustus and the       
sainted ,louis1 but retained to no small
 extent1 even as they do unto to-day1   
their distinctive local characteristics4

  ,because of its cathedrals alone1 the 
,isle of ,france stands preminent among 
the provinces for each of the thirteen  
provincial styles of architecture which 
are allocated by the ,socit des         
,monuments ,historiques4 ,a             
comparatively small and unified         
province1 it comprehends within and     
contiguous to its borders more of the   
attributes and principles of a          
consistent ,medival architectural style 
than is elsewhere to be observed4 ,from 
,rouen on the west to ,reims on the     
east1 northward to ,amiens and          
southwesterly to ,chartres1 are grouped 
the show pieces of the world's ,gothic  
architecture4 ,not alone with the       
respect to the ,grand ,cathedrals is    
this region so richly endowed1 but also 
because of the smaller and less         
important1 but no less attractive or    
interesting examples of ,noyon1 ,senlis1
 ,laon1 ,soissons1 with their one-time  
cathedral churches and other varied     
ecclesiastical and secular edifices4    

,beauvais1 ,gisors1 ,gourney1           
,cires-les-,mello1 ,creil1 ,royamont1   
,nogent-les-,vierges1                   
,villers-,st4-,pol1 indeed nearly every 
village and town within the royal       
domain1 present values and comparisons  
which place nearly all of its           
contemporary structures1 be they large  
or small1 at a grand height above those 
of other less prolific sections4 ,lest  
it be thought that this statement is    
drawn largely1 and that fineness and    
balance of estimate are lacking1 it     
suffices to state that it is not alone  
from study and research1 but from       
frequent personal intimacies that the   
region has ever proved an inexhaustible 
store of architectural values1 and one  
which most well-known authorities1 with 
one accord1 place in the very first     
rank4  ,arthur ,young1 than whom no more
 perspicuous observer has ever          
chronicled his impressions1 wrote       
7#agjd7 that to see the best of ,france1
 the part most varied in topography1 and

 resourceful and attractive in its      
monuments1 one should land at ,havre and
 follow the sinuosity of the ,seine to  
,paris1 thence the highroad to ,moulins 
and on to the ,rhne at ,valence1 an     
outline which somewhat approaches the   
limitations of territory of which this  
book treats4 ,to be sure1 he wrote of   
economic and agricultural conditions1   
and he mostly made his pertinent        
observations on land holdings1 stock    
keeping1 and hedgerows1 or rather that  
lack of them which is so apparent       
throughout ,france2 but these details of
 themselves only suggest more complete  
evidences of the existing forces which  
indicate the growth of the wealth and   
power which has made this region so rich
 in its architectural memorials of the  
past1 and which ought to more than      
compensate for any lack of scenic       
grandeur4  ,it is to be regretted1 of   
course1 that none of these larger       
cathedrals are to be seen to-day in     
their completely perfected forms4 ,to   

what extent would not the glories of    
,reims1 of ,amiens1 of ,beauvais1 or of 
,rouen1 be enhanced1 were it possible   
for us to even imagine their splendour1 
were they possessed of the symmetry and 
well-favoured situation of the ,dom at  
,cologne8 ,and so it is that we can but 
feel regret when we mentally note the   
lack of nave at ,beauvais1 of spires at 
,bourges1 and1 yet again1 regret even   
with more pain the monstrousness of the 
cast-iron flche which has been added to 
the central tower at ,rouen4 ,but these 
are after all minor                     
imperfections--seldom1 if ever1 in aught
 but pleasurable anticipation1 do we see
 in the masterpieces of art or nature a 
perfect unity2 so why seek to negative  
their virtues by futile criticism8 ,it  
would seem to be all-sufficient that    
such details1 sins of omission or       
commission1 should be noted merely1 that
 we may pass on to other charms which   
must compel our allegiance4  ,when we   
visit the cathedrals of the ,isle of    

,france1 we are at once in the midst of 
the best examples of ,french ,gothic    
architecture1 or of ,french ,medival    
architecture1 if the phrase is to be    
preferred4     ,,part ,i  ,transition   
,examples     ,i  ,,introductory        
,soissons1 with ,noyon and ,laon1 all   
within perhaps thirty miles of one      
another1 may be said to best represent  
the nurturing and development of the    
early ,gothic of ,france4 ,these simple 
and somewhat plain types exemplify the  
style which was in vogue at the same    
time in the ,low ,countries4 ,it is good
 ,gothic1 to be sure1--at least1 good as
 to its planning1--but without that     
ornateness or lightness known to-day as 
characteristic of the distinctive       
,french type1 which so early developed  
boldly and beautifully4  ,one observes  
the resemblances in style between the   
notable cathedral at ,tournai1 in       
,belgium1 the neighbouring types of     
,french ,flanders1 and the cathedrals of
 this trinity of ,french towns lying    

contiguous thereto1 ,noyon itself being 
for long interdependent with the see of 
,tournai4 ,nevertheless1 it is a        
beautiful type which was cradled here in
 the country called1 by ,csar1          
,suessiones2 and difficult it would be  
to attempt to assign preminence to any  
one edifice4  ,noyon1 without a doubt1  
has the greatest charm of environment1  
and is of itself in every way a pleasing
 and satisfying example of what should  
most truly inspire and impress us in a  
cathedral4 ,stevenson describes it as   
being the happiest inspiration of       
mankind1 a thing as specious as a statue
 at the first glance1 yet1 on           
examination1 as lively and interesting  
as a forest in detail4 ,the height of   
its spires cannot be taken by           
trigonometry3 they measure absurdly     
short1 but how tall they are to the     
admiring eye4444 ,i sat outside of my   
hotel and the sweet groaning thunder of 
the organ floated out of the church like
 a summons2--and much more of the same  

sort1 all of which tells us that1 once  
we find ourselves on a plane of intimacy
 with a great church1 we continually    
receive new impressions and             
inspirations1 and it is in this vein    
that one who has known this group of    
simple but fascinating churches on their
 own ground1 so to put it1 can but seek 
to convey the idea that it is good that 
we have such contrasting types as a     
relief and an antidote to an appetite   
which otherwise might become sated4     
,illustration3 ,,cathedral of ,,notre   
,,dame ,,laon  ,,ii  ,,notre ,,dame ,,de
 ,,laon   ,for over twelve hundred      
years1 until the see was abolished at   
the ,revolution1 ,laon was the seat of a
 bishop who in point of rank was second 
only to the primate at ,reims4 ,crowning
 the apex of a long isolated hill1 upon 
which the entire town1 now a fortress of
 the third class1 is situated1 the      
cathedral of ,notre ,dame de ,laon1     
still so called locally1 has endured    
since the beginning of the twelfth      

century1 and may be considered a        
thoroughly representative transition    
example4  ,the present structure is on  
the site of one burned in #aaab1 and    
during comparatively recent years has   
been entirely restored4  ,its crowning  
glory is in the disposition and number  
of its fine group of towers3 two flank  
the western faade1 and are rectangular  
at the base1 dwindling to a smaller     
polygon1 which is flanked with corner   
belfries and pierced by a tall lancet in
 the central structure1 showing a       
wonderful lightness and open effect4 ,a 
curious and unique feature of these     
towers is the addition of four oxen in  
carven stone perched high aloft in the  
belfries4 ,these sculptured animals may 
be merely another expression of symbols 
of superstition1 and if so are far more 
pleasing than some of the hideous and   
monstrous gargoyles ofttimes seen4 ,two 
other towers1 each #aij feet in height1 
adjoin the transepts1 to each of which  
is attached a double-storied1 apsidal1  

ancient chapel4 ,two similarly projected
 towers are lacking4 ,the lantern is    
square1 with a shallow1 conical1 modern 
roof4  ,in the transition type          
,romanesque influences were evidently   
dying hard4 ,the ,gothic was seldom full
 blown1 and at ,laon shows but the      
merest trace of pointedness to the      
arches of the western faade1 either in  
the portals or in the higher openings4  
,the lack of a circular termination to  
the choir is but another indication of a
 link with a transitory past2 an        
undeniably false note and one very      
unusual in ,france1 the choir being of  
the squared-off variety so common in    
,england4 ,this may be coincident with  
the ,english custom of the time1 or it  
may be directly due to a local ,english 
influence2--most probably the latter1   
inasmuch as an ,english prelate held the
 see for a time1 and the city1 in the   
early fifteenth century1 was for a      
number of years in ,english hands4 ,it  
is significant that in some of the      

smaller churches of the diocese is to be
 noted the same treatment4  ,the rose   
windows of both the eastern and western 
faades are ,gothic in inception and     
treatment1 and are unusually acceptable 
specimens of these supreme efforts of   
the ,french medival builders1 the glass 
therein being distinctly good1 though   
perhaps not remarkable4  ,the transepts 
are rectangular and1 with the ensemble  
of the entire structure1 were their     
towers completed1 there would be        
produced1 not only a unique example1 but
 a towering effect only a degree less   
interesting than the perfectly          
proportioned pyramidal form so much     
admired in the perfectly developed      
,gothic4  ,the interior is equally      
attractive with the exterior1 and1      
though the church is not by any means of
 remarkable dimensions1 it presents in  
its appropriate disposition of detail a 
far more roomy and pleasing arrangement 
than many a larger example4  ,the       
transepts are divided into a nave and   

side aisles1 the columns which partition
 them1 like those of the nave proper1   
being cylindrical and of massive        
proportions1 which1 however1 lighten as 
they rise to the vaulting4 ,they are    
unusually symmetrical when viewed       
together1 the capitals of the lower     
series being ornately carved1 each of a 
varying design4  ,above the aisles are  
lofty galleries4 ,the nave chapels were 
added in the sixteenth and seventeenth  
centuries4 ,the stained glass1 like that
 of the rose windows1 is in the nave    
distinctly good1 particularly that of   
the lower range on the southerly side4  
,the pulpit1 of carved wood of the      
,renaissance period1 is not of the      
importance and quality of this class of 
work to be seen across the ,rhine       
border4  ,the former ,bishop's palace1  
adjoining the left of the choir1 is now 
the ,palais de ,justice4 ,a few remains 
of a former ,gothic cloister are to be  
remarked1 surrounded by the later       
construction4     ,illustration3 ,notre 

,dame de ,noyon  ,,iii  ,,notre ,,dame  
,,de ,,noyon   ,in ,notre ,dame at      
,noyon1 ,notre ,dame at ,laon1 and the  
cathedral at ,tournai1 is to be noted   
the very unusual division of the        
interior elevation into four ranges of  
openings1 this effect being only seen at
 ,paris and ,rouen among the large      
cathedrals4 ,noyon and ,laon borrowed1  
perhaps1 from ,tournai1 where building  
was commenced at least a century before 
either of the ,french examples first    
took form4 ,it is perhaps not essential 
that such an arrangement be made in     
order to give an effect of loftiness1   
which might not otherwise exist2 indeed1
 it is a question if the reverse is not 
actually the case1 though the effect is 
undeniably one of grandeur4 ,soissons1  
too1 may rightly enough be included in  
the group1 though the points of         
resemblance in this case are confined to
 the rising steps to either transept1   
coupled with the joint possession of    
circumambient aisles1 and at least the  

suggested intent of circular apsidal    
terminations to the transepts2 though it
 appears that here this plan was        
ultimately changed and one transept     
finished off with the usual rectangular 
ending4  ,in this ,noyon plainly excels1
 and there is found nowhere else in     
,france the perfect trefoil effect      
produced by the apsidal terminations of 
both transepts and choir4 ,so far as the
 transepts are concerned1 they are of   
the manner affected by the builders on  
the ,rhine1 notably in the ,minster at  
,bonn1 at ,cologne1 and again at ,neuss 
in the neighbourhood of ,cologne4 ,with 
,noyon apparently nothing is lacking    
either in the perfections of its former 
cathedral or in its immediate           
environment4 ,the country round about is
 thoroughly agricultural1 and free from 
the soot and grime of a manufacturing   
community4 ,amid a setting at once      
historic and romantic1 it has for       
neighbours the chteaux of ,coucy and    
,perrifonds1 with ,compigne and         

,chantilly not far distant4 ,the town is
 unprogressive enough1 and the vast     
barge traffic of the ,oise sidles by1   
not a mile away1 as if it were all      
unconscious of the existence of any     
signs of modern civilization4 ,as a     
matter of fact1 it hardly is modern4    
,the accommodation for the weary        
traveller is of a satisfying and        
gratifying quality1 as the comparatively
 few visitors to the place well know4   
,the city is an ancient foundation1     
having been known as the ,noviodunum of 
the ,romans4 ,here ,charlemagne was     
crowned ,king of the ,franks in #gfh1   
and ,hugh ,capet elected king in #ihg2  
and here1 in an important stronghold of 
,catholicism1 as it had long been1      
,calvin was born in #aeji4  ,altogether 
there is much to be found here to charm 
and stimulate our imagination4 ,as a    
type the cathedral stands preminent4 ,as
 to detail and state of preservation1   
they1 too1 leave little to be desired1  
though the appreciative author of a     

charming and valuable work treating of a
 good half hundred or more of the       
architectural glories of ,france bemoans
 the lack of a satisfying daily ,office4
 ,this may be a fault1 possibly1 if such
 be really the case4 ,the fabric of the 
church has stood the wear and tear of   
time and stress exceeding well4 ,built  
in the eleventh and twelfth centuries1  
it is a thoroughly harmonious and       
pleasing whole1 and we can well believe 
all that may have been said of it by the
 few able critics who have passed       
judgment upon its style1 as well as the 
sentiment conveyed by the phrase that it
 is one of the most graceful and lovable
 of all the cathedrals of ,france4 ,the 
bishopric was suppressed after the      
,revolution1 and the church is now a    
dependency of the ,bishop of ,beauvais4 
,the elongated belfry towers are perhaps
 the first and most noticeable feature2 
secondly1 the overhanging porch with its
 supporting frontal buttresses2 thirdly1
 the before-mentioned tri-apsidal effect

 of the easterly end2 and1 last but not 
least1 the general grouping of the whole
 structure in combination with the      
buildings which are gathered about its  
haunches1 though with no suspicion of a 
detracting element as in some sordid and
 crowded cities1 where1 in spite of     
undeniable picturesqueness1 is presented
 a squalor and poverty not creditable   
either to the city of its habitation or 
to the cathedral authorities themselves4
 ,from every point of vantage the       
steeples of ,notre ,dame de ,noyon add  
the one ingredient which makes a unity  
of the entire ensemble1--a true         
old-world atmosphere1 a town seen in not
 too apparent a state of unrepair and   
certainly not a degenerate4  ,the       
interior presents no less striking or   
noble features4 ,it is not stupendous or
 remarkably awesome2 but it is grand1   
with a subtleness which is              
inexpressible4 ,round and pointed arches
 are intermixed1 and there is a notable 
display of the round variety in the     

upper ranges of the quadrupled elevation
 of the nave1 the lightness1 which might
 otherwise have been marred1 being      
preserved through the employment of a   
series of simple lancets in the         
clerestory of the choir4 ,rearward of   
the south transept are the chapter-house
 and the scanty remains of a ,gothic    
cloister1 where a somewhat careworn     
combination of the forces of nature and 
art have culminated in giving an        
unusually old-world charm to this       
apparently neglected gem1 as well       
representative of early ,french ,gothic 
as any in existence to-day4     ,,iv    
,,notre ,,dame ,,de ,,soissons          
,soissons1 the other primitive example1 
is at once a surprise and a             
disappointment4 ,from the railway1 on   
entering the town1 one is highly        
impressed with the grouping of a        
sky-piercing1 twin-spired structure of  
ample and symmetrical proportions2 and  
at some distance therefrom is seen      
another building1 possibly enough of    

less importance4 ,curiously1 it is the  
cathedral which is the less imposing1   
and1 until one is well up with the      
beautifully formed spires1 he hardly    
realizes that they represent all that is
 left of the majestic ,abbey of ,st4    
,jean des ,vignes1 where ,becket spent  
nine long years4 ,it is a mere bit of   
stage scenery1 with height and breadth1 
but no thickness4 ,it is a pity that    
such a charming structure as this noble 
building must once have been is now left
 to crumble4 ,the magnificent rose      
window1 or rather the circular opening  
which it once occupied1 is now but a    
mere orifice1 of great proportions1 but 
destitute of glazing4 ,the entire       
confines of the building1 which crowns a
 slight eminence at the entrance of the 
town1 are now given over to the use of  
the military authorities4  ,a little to 
the right lies the one-time cathedral of
 ,notre ,dame1 ,soissons being another  
of the ci-devant bishoprics suppressed  
after the ,revolution by the            

redistribution which gave but one       
diocese to a ,department4 ,though not   
unpleasing1 its faade is marred by its  
lack of symmetry1 while the tower1 which
 rises on the right #bae feet1 is not   
sufficiently striking to redeem what    
otherwise is an ordinary enough         
ensemble4 ,the tower to the left was    
never raised above where it now ends1   
and the faade1 lacking the charm which  
the edifice might otherwise have had1   
were the towers as complete and well    
proportioned as are those of a later    
date which grace the remains of the old 
abbey1 will be for ever wanting until   
this completion be carried out4         
,romanesque is plainly noticeable in    
mixture with the early ,gothic4 ,the    
three portals are not remarkable1 or    
uniform1 and are severely plain1 and1   
though of a noticeable receding depth1  
are bare and unpeopled4 ,a              
well-proportioned rose window1 though   
not so large as many in the greater     
cathedrals1 has graceful radiating      

spokes and good glass4 ,this is flanked 
by two unpierced lancet-pointed         
window-frames which but accentuate the  
plainness of the entire faade4 ,above is
 an arcaded gallery which was intended  
to cross the entire front1 but which now
 stops where the gable joins the        
northerly tower4 ,restoration has been  
carried on1 not sparingly1 but in good  
taste1 with the result that1 in spite of
 its newness at the present writing1 it 
appears as a consistent and thoroughly  
conscientious piece of work1 and not the
 mere patchwork that such repairs       
usually suggest4  ,the guide-books tell 
one that ,soissons is famous for its    
trade in haricot beans1 and incidentally
 for the beans themselves1 and for the  
great number of sieges which it has     
undergone1 the last being that conducted
 by the ,germans1 who took possession in
 ,october1 #ahgj1 after a bombardment of
 three days4  ,fergusson makes the      
statement1 which is well taken1 that the
 ,cathedral of ,notre ,dame de          

,soissons1 while not in any sense       
meriting the term magnificent1 presents1
 in its interior arrangements1 at least1
 a most symmetrical and harmonious      
ensemble4 ,a curious though not         
unpleasing effect is produced by the    
blackened pointing of the interior      
masonry1 of piers1 walls1 and vaulting  
alike4 ,an unusual feature is the       
circumambient aisles to the transepts   
and the suggestion that a trefoil       
apsidal termination was originally      
thought of1 when the rebuilding was     
taken in hand in the twelfth century4   
,the transept is so completed on the    
south side1 which possesses also an     
ancient portal1 and1 with the two at    
,noyon so done1 presents a feature which
 is as much a relief from the usual     
rectangle as are the rounded choirs of  
,continental churches a beauty in       
advance of the accepted ,english manner 
of treatment of this detail4  ,the choir
 rises loftily above the transepts and  
nave1 and1 while the general proportions

 are not such as to suggest undue       
narrowness1 the effect is of much       
greater height than really exists4      
,this1 too1 is apparent when viewing the
 abside itself4  ,the ,chapel of the    
,rosary in the north transept is        
overtopped by an effective arrangement  
of perpendicular window-framing1        
supporting a beautiful rose window of   
the spoke variety4 ,it is safe to say   
that1 had the entire space provided been
 glazed1 the effect of lighting would   
have been unique among the cathedrals of
 the world4  ,the only other decorative 
embellishments are some tapestries1 a   
few well-preserved tombs1 and an        
,adoration supposed to be by ,rubens1   
which is perhaps more likely to be      
genuine1 because of the situation of the
 church near unto ,flanders1 than many  
other examples whose claims have even   
less to support them4     ,,part ,,ii   
,the ,grand ,group     ,i               
,,introductory   ,expert opinion1 so    
called1 may possibly differ as to just  

what1 or what not1 cathedrals of ,france
 should be included in this term4 ,the  
,french proverb known of all guide-book 
makers should give a clue as to those   
which at least may not be left out4     
,clocher de ,chartres1 ,nef d',amiens   
,choeur de ,beauvais et ,portale de     
,reims4  ,rouen1 ,paris1 and ,le ,mans  
should be included1 as well possibly as 
the smaller but no less convincing      
examples at ,sez1 ,sens1 ,laon1 and     
,troyes1 as being of an analogous manner
 of building1 and1 by all that goes to  
make up the components of a really great
 church1 ,bourges might well be         
considered in the same group4 ,for      
practical and divisional purposes it is 
perhaps well to compose an octette of   
the churches of the ,isle of ,france and
 those lying contiguous thereto1 ,paris1
 ,beauvais1 ,st4 ,denis1 ,amiens1       
,reims1 ,rouen1 ,chartres1 and ,le      
,mans1 which may be taken together as   
representative of the greatest art      
expression of the ,gothic builders1 as  

well as being those around which centred
 the most significant events of ,church 
and ,state4 ,to attempt to catalogue    
even briefly the charms and notable     
attributes of even the first four1 would
 require more than the compass of       
several volumes the size of the present1
 whereas the attempt made herein is     
merely to lead with as little digression
 as possible up to the chief glories for
 which they are revered1 and to suggest 
some of the many important and          
epoch-making events intimately          
associated therewith4 ,more would be    
impossible1 manifestly1 unless the      
present work were to transcend the      
limitations which were originally       
planned for it1 hence it is with no     
halting assertion that we enter boldly  
upon that chronology or rsum which1 in a
 way1 presents a marshalled array of    
correlated facts which the reader may   
care to follow in further detail in the 
list of bibliographical references      
included at the end of the volume4      

,certain facts relating to the history  
and the architectural features generally
 of these great cathedrals are known to 
all1 and are chronicled with more or    
less completeness in many valuable and  
authoritative works1 ranging from the   
humble though necessary guide-book to   
the extensive if not exhaustive         
architectural work of reference4 ,the   
facts given herein are such1 then1 as   
are often overlooked in the             
before-mentioned classes of works1 and  
as such are presented1 not so much with 
the avowed object of imparting          
information1 as to remind the reader of 
the wealth of interest that exists with 
relation to these shrines of religious  
art4 ,this seems to be the only preamble
 possible to the chapters which attempt 
to even classify these magnificent      
buildings1 wherein much is attempted and
 so little accomplished in recounting   
their varied attractions4 ,let this     
explanation stand1 therefore1 for any   
seeming paucity of description which may

 exist4     ,illustration3 ,le ,bon     
,dieu d',amiens  ,,ii  ,,notre ,,dame   
,d',,amiens   ,the ever impressive      
,cathedral of ,notre ,dame d',amiens is 
in most ,english minds the beau ideal of
 a ,french cathedral4 ,it is            
contemporary with ,salisbury in period1 
at least1 but it has little to remind   
one of the actual features of this      
edifice4 ,often associated therewith1 as
 a similar type1 it has little in       
reality in common1 except that each is  
representative of a supreme style4      
,beyond this it is hard to see how any  
expert1 archologist1 antiquary1 or what 
not1 would seek to discover relationship
 between two such distinct types4       
,salisbury is the ideal ,english        
cathedral as to situation1 surroundings1
 and general charm and grace4 ,this no  
one would attempt to deny2 but1 in      
another environment1 how different might
 it not appear1--as for instance placed 
beside ,amiens1 where in one particular 
alone1 the mere height of nave and      

choir1 it immediately dwindles into     
insignificance4 ,under such conditions  
its graceful spire becomes dwarfed and  
attenuated4 ,need more be said8--,the   
writer thinks not1 since the present    
work does not deal with the comparative 
merits of any two cathedrals or of      
national types2 but the suggestion      
should serve to demonstrate how         
impossible it is for any writer1 however
 erudite he may be1 to attempt to assign
 precedence1 or even rank1 among the    
really great architectural works of an  
era4 ,this observation is true of many  
other examples of art expression4       
,illustration3 ,,notre ,,dame d',,amiens
 444  ,the cathedral at ,amiens is      
dedicated to the ,virgin1 and is built  
in the general form of a ,latin cross4  
,over the principal doorway of the south
 portal1 on one of the upper plinths1   
may be seen the inscription which places
 the date of the present edifice4       
,en l'anque l',incarnatio valait mcc et 
xx4 ,ro4444rs1 ifu3      rimisit3 le    

premire piere3 iasis1444 le cors4444    
,robert444  ,the work was undertaken by 
one ,robert de ,luzarche1 in the        
episcopate of ,evrard de ,fouilloy1 the 
forty-fifth ,bishop of ,amiens1 whose   
tomb may be seen just within the western
 doorway1 and occupies the site of other
 structures which had been variously    
devastated by fire or invasion in #hej1 
#ajai1 #aacg1 and #abah4 ,for fifty     
years the work went on expeditiously    
under various bishops and their         
architects4 ,saint ,louis1 ,blanche of  
,castille1 ,philippe the ,hardy1 and the
 city fathers all aided the work        
substantially1 and the fabric speedily  
took on its finished form4 ,through the 
later centuries it still preserved its  
entity1 and even during the ,revolution 
its walls escaped destruction and       
defilement through the devotion of its  
adherents4  ,in later days important    
work and restoration has been carried   
out under the paternal care and at the  
expense of the state2 and the city      

itself only recently contributed #de1jjj
 francs for the clearing away of        
obstructing buildings4  ,a ,french      
writer has said1 ,it is only with the   
aid of a ,bible and a history of        
theology that it is possible to         
elucidate the vast iconographic display 
of the marvellous west front of the     
cathedral at ,amiens4 ,like ,reims1 its 
three portals of great size are peopled 
with a throng of statues4 ,the central  
portal1 known as the ,porche du         
,souvenir1 contains the statue of the   
,good ,god of ,amiens2 that on the right
 is called after the ,mre de ,dieu1 and 
that on the left for ,st4 ,fermin the   
,martyr4 ,above the gables is the       
,gallery of ,kings1 just below the      
enormous rose windows4 ,above rise the  
two towers of unequal loftiness1 and    
lacking1 be it said1 thickness in its   
due proportion4 ,the carven figures in  
general are not considered the equal in 
workmanship of those at ,reims1 though  
the effect and arrangement is similar4  

,for a complete list of them1 numbering 
some hundreds on this faade alone1 the  
reader must refer to some local         
guide-book1 of which several are issued 
in the city4  ,the south portal1 the    
,portal de la ,vierge dore or ,portal de
 ,saint ,honor1 shares company with the 
west faade in its richness of sculpture 
and its rose window and its gable4 ,here
 also are to be seen the supporting     
buttresses which spring laterally from  
the wall of the transept and cross with 
those which come from the choir4  ,the  
north portal1 on the side of the        
,bishop's ,palace1 does not show the    
same richness as the others1 though     
perhaps more than ordinarily ornate4    
,the spire above the transept crossing  
is a work of the sixteenth century1 and 
is perhaps more remarkable than its     
rather diminutive appearance1 in        
contrast with the huge bulk of the      
edifice1 would indicate4  ,the extreme  
height of nave and choir 7#adg feet71   
adds immeasurably to the grand effect   

produced by the interior1 a height in   
proportion to breadth nearly double that
 usual in the ,english cathedrals4 ,the 
vaulting is borne aloft by over one     
hundred columns4 ,the natural attribute 
of such great dimension is a superb     
series of windows1 a promise more than  
fulfilled by the three great rose       
windows and the lofty clerestory of nave
 and choir4 ,the sixteenth century glass
 is exceedingly profuse and brilliant4  
,the lateral chapels of the nave were   
added subsequent to the work of the     
early builders1 all being of the        
sixteenth century1 while the eleven     
choir chapels are of the thirteenth     
century1 all with very ornate iron      
grilles1 which are a feature only second
 to a remarkable series of choir stalls1
 numbering over one hundred1 showing a  
wonderful variety of delicate carved    
figures of the sixteenth century1 the   
work of one ,jean ,turpin1 the subjects 
being mainly ,biblical4  ,a stone screen
 with elaborate sculptures in high      

relief surrounds the choir1 that on the 
south representing the legend of ,st4   
,firmin1 the patron of ,picardy1 and    
that on the north1 scenes connected with
 the life of ,john the ,baptist4 ,in a  
side chapel dedicated to ,st4 ,john     
reposes the alleged head of ,john the   
,baptist4 ,others have appeared         
elsewhere from time to time1 but as they
 are not now recognized as being        
genuine1 and the said apostle not being 
hydra-headed1 it is possible that there 
will be those who will choose to throw  
the weight of their opinions in favour  
of the claim of ,amiens4  ,the flying   
buttresses at ,amiens are not of the    
singular lightness associated with this 
notably ,french characteristic2 they are
 in the main1 however1 none the less    
effective for that1 and assuredly1 so   
far as the work which they have to      
perform is concerned1 it was doubtless  
necessary that they should be of more   
than ordinary strength4  ,the view of   
the ensemble from the river shows the   

massiveness and general proportions in a
 unique and superb manner4 ,amiens is   
not otherwise an attractive city1 a     
bustle of grand and cheap hotels1       
decidedly a place to be taken en route1 
not like ,beauvais1 where one may well  
remain as long as fancy wills and not   
feel the too strong hand of progress    
intruding upon his ruminations4         
,,iii  ,,st4 ,,pierre ,,de ,,beauvais   
,beauvais is by no means an inaccessible
 place1 though how often have we known  
one who could not tell in what part of  
,france it was situated4 ,of course1    
being off the line is sufficient excuse 
for the majority of hurried travellers  
to pass it by1 but1 leaving this        
debatable point out of the question1 let
 us admit1 for the nonce1 that it is    
admirably located if one only chooses to
 spend a half-day or more in visiting   
the charmingly interesting city and its 
cathedral1 or what there is of it1 for  
it exists only as a luminous height sans
 nave1 sans tower1 and sans nearly      

everything1 except a choir of such      
immensity that to see it is to marvel if
 not to admire4 ,it is indeed as ,hope  
has said1 a miracle of loftiness and    
lightness2 appearing as if about to soar
 into the air4  ,illustration3 ,,st4    
,,pierre 444 de ,,beauvais  ,how many   
readers1 who recognize the charms for   
which the cathedral is most revered1    
know that it was intended to rank as the
 ,st4 ,peter's of the north1 and like   
its ,roman prototype1 was to surpass all
 other contemporary structures in size  
and magnificence4 ,this was marked out  
for it when1 in the middle sixteenth    
century1 the builders of its central    
spire1 which fell shortly after1 sought 
to rival the ,italian church in a vast  
,gothic fabric which should be the      
dominant northern type in               
contra-distinction to that of the south4
 ,this of itself1 were there no other   
contributory interests1 which there are 
to a very great degree1 should be       
all-sufficient to awaken the desire on  

the part of every one who journeys      
,parisward to obtain a more intimate    
acquaintance with this great work4 ,here
 was an instance of ambition overleaping
 itself1--exceeding by far the needs and
 conditions of its environment and like 
many another ill-planned venture1 it    
fell to ruin through a lack of logic and
 mental balance4 ,to-day we see a       
restored fabric1 lacking all the        
attributes of a great church except that
 which is encompassed by that portion   
lying eastward of the nave proper1 its  
frail buttresses knitted together by    
iron rods1 its piers latterly doubled in
 number1 and many more visible signs of 
an attempt to hold its walls and roofs  
up to the work they have to perform4    
,the present structure1 in so far as    
certain of its components go1 was       
commenced within five years of ,amiens  
7#abbe71 which calls to mind the        
guide-book comparison1 which seems so   
appropriate that it must really have    
previously originated from some other   

source1--,amiens1 a giant in repose2    
,beauvais1 a ,colossus on tiptoe4  ,its 
designer built not wisely1 nor in this  
case too well1 for before the end of the
 century the roof had fallen1 and this  
after repeated miscalculations and      
failures4 ,at this time the intermediate
 piers of the choir were built and a    
general modified plan adopted4          
,ruskin's favourite simile1 with respect
 to ,st4 ,pierre de ,beauvais1 was that 
no ,alpine precipice had the sheer fall 
of the walls of this choir1--or words to
 that effect1 which is about as         
far-fetched as many other of his        
dictums1 which have since been exploded 
by writers of every degree of optimism  
and pessimism4 ,certainly it is a great 
height to which this choir rises1 one   
hundred and fifty-three feet it has been
 called1 which probably exceeds that of 
,amiens by a dozen or more feet1 though 
authorities 7sic7 vary with regard to   
these dimensions1 as might be supposed2 
but it is no more like unto a wall of   

rock than it is to a lighthouse4  ,with 
the crumbling of the sixteenth-century  
spire on ,ascension ,day1 #aegc1        
restoration of the transepts was        
undertaken and work on the nave resumed1
 which only proceeded1 however1 to the  
extent of erecting one bay to the       
westward1 which stands to this day1 the 
open end filled in with scantling1      
weather proofing1 and what not1--a bare1
 gaunt1 ugly patch4 ,had it been        
possible to complete the work on its    
original magnificent lines1 it would    
have been the most stupendous ,gothic   
fabric the world has ever known4  ,not  
entirely without beauty1 in spite of its
 great proportions1 it is more with     
wonder than admiration that one views   
both its details and proportions4       
,though it is perhaps unfair to condemn 
its style as unworthy of the ,augustan  
age of ,french architecture1 surely the 
ambition with which the work was        
undertaken was a laudable one enough1   
and it is only from the fact that it    

spells failure in the eyes of many who  
lack initiative in their own make-up1   
that it only qualifiedly may be called a
 great work4  ,the choir1 which now     
dates from #acbb1 perforce looks unduly 
short1 by reason of the absence of a    
nave to add to the effect of horizontal 
stability2 and the great height of the  
adjoining transept2 but the chevet and  
buttresses are certainly a marvel of    
grace and towering forms4  ,the portals 
of the transept are of the period of    
,francis ,i41 with flowing lines and    
ornate decorations--having passed the   
severity and ethical standards of       
maturity1 and progressed well along the 
path to senility1 as a vigorous         
,frenchman has put it4 ,true enough in  
its application is this livid           
sentiment1--perhaps1--but its jewel-like
 south portal1 like the gemmed west     
front of ,tours1 forms an attractive    
enough presentment to please most       
observers who do not delve too deeply   
into cause and effect4 ,the north portal

 is less ornate1 but its beautifully    
carved doors are by the same hand as    
that which worked the opposite portal4  
,the ornamental stonework here is       
unusual1 suggesting an arrangement which
 may or may not have been intended as a 
representation of the ,tree of ,jesse4  
,in any case it is a remarkable work of 
flowing ,gothic branches1 which1 though 
mainly lacking its intended interspersed
 figures1 is not only unique among      
exterior decorations1 but appears as a  
singularly appropriate treatment of a   
grand doorway4  ,adjoining the choir on 
the right is a sacristy occupying a     
small structure1 and to the westward is 
a fragmentary edifice known as the      
,basse ,o,euvre1--one of the oldest     
existing buildings in ,france2 a        
,romano-,byzantine work1 variously      
stated as of the sixth to eighth century
 and forming a portion of the original  
church which occupied the site of the   
present ,cathedral4  ,the general       
impressiveness of this great church--the

 memory which most of us will carry     
away--is caused by its immensity1 its   
loftiness1 and the general effect of    
lightness4 ,these form an irresistible  
galaxy of features which can hardly fail
 to produce a new and startling         
sensation upon any observer4  ,as to    
decorative embellishments1 the church is
 by no means lacking4 ,the coloured     
glass1 typical of the best period of the
 art1 is luxurious and extensive2 that  
contained in the north and south        
transept rose windows being the         
exceedingly beautiful work of ,le       
,prince1 a celebrated sixteenth-century 
artist4  ,numerous side chapels surround
 the ambulatory of the choir1 and on the
 west wall of the transept are hung the 
eight tapestries after the              
sixteenth-century ,raphael cartoons now 
at ,south ,kensington4 ,these tapestries
 are1 it is to be presumed1 late copies1
 since1 of the two early sets woven at  
,arras1 one is preserved in the ,vatican
 and the other at the ,museum at        

,berlin4 ,a modern fresco of ,jeanne    
,hachette1 a local ,amazon1 adorns one  
of the choir chapels4 ,a modern         
astronomical clock1 with numerous dials1
 striking figures1 and crowing cocks1 is
 placed near the north transept4 ,it    
might naturally be supposed that in our 
day the canons of good taste would plead
 against such a mere curio being housed 
in a noble church4  ,the former         
,bishop's ,palace1 dating from the      
fourteenth to sixteenth centuries1 is   
now the ,palace of ,justice4 ,the       
present episcopal residence is          
immediately to the north of the         
,cathedral and is modern4  ,as a        
tapestry-making centre ,beauvais ranks  
with the famous ,gobelin ,manufactory at
 ,paris4     ,illustration3 ,notre ,dame
 de ,rouen  ,,iv  ,,notre ,,dame ,,de   
,,rouen   ,rouen1 of all the medival    
cities of ,france1 is ever to the fore  
in the memories of the mere traveller   
for pleasure4 ,in no sense are its      
charms of a negative quality1 or few in 

number4 ,quite the reverse is the case2 
but the city's apparent attraction is   
its extreme accessibility1 and the      
glamours that a metropolis of rank      
throws over itself2 for it must not be  
denied that a countrified environment   
has not1 for all1 the appealing interest
 of a great city4 ,it is to this1 then1 
that ,rouen must accredit the throngs of
 strangers which continually flock to   
its doors from the ,easter time to late 
autumn4 ,in addition there are its three
 great churches1 so conveniently and    
accessibly placed that the veriest tyro 
in travel can but come upon them        
whichever way he strolls4 ,other        
monuments of equal rank there are1 too1 
and altogether1 whether it be the mere  
hurried pecking of a bird of passage1 or
 the more leisurely attack of the       
studiously inclined1 ,rouen offers      
perhaps much greater attractions than   
are possessed by any other ,french city 
of equal rank4  ,so closely1 too1 have  
certain events of ,english history been 

interwoven with scenes and incidents    
which have taken place here1 that the   
wonder is that it is not known even more
 intimately by that huge number of      
persons who annually rush across ,france
 to ,switzerland or ,italy4             
,chroniclers of the city's history1 its 
churches1 and its institutions have not 
been wanting1 in either ,french or      
,english2 and even the guide-books      
enlarge 7not unduly7 upon its varied    
charms4 ,once possessing thirty-two     
churches1 sixteen yet remain2 quite     
one-half of which may be numbered to-day
 as of appealing interest4 ,en passant1 
it may be stated that here at ,rouen1 in
 both ,notre ,dame and the ,abbey       
,church of ,st4 ,ouen1 is found that    
gorgeous functionary1 commonly called   
the ,suisse1 who seeks your gold or a   
portion thereof1 in return for which he 
will favour you by opening an iron      
wicket into the choir1 an incumbrance   
unnoticed elsewhere1 except at ,paris   
and ,st4 ,denis4  ,the late ,gothic     

church of ,st4 ,ouen1 where the ,maid of
 ,orleans received her fatal sentence1  
shows a wonderful unity of design even  
as to its modern western towers2 a      
consistency not equally the possession  
of the neighbouring cathedral1 or even  
of most great churches4 ,altogether1    
this grand building is regarded as an   
unparallelled example of the realization
 of much that is best of ,gothic        
architecture at its greatest height4 ,in
 its central tower alone--which may or  
may not be suggestive of a              
market-basket1 accordingly as you will  
take ,ruskin's opinion1 or form one of  
your own--is the least evidence of the  
developed flamboyant found4 ,its        
interior is clean-cut and free of       
obstruction2 the extreme length of its  
straight lines1 both horizontal and     
perpendicular1 entirely freed from      
chapel or choir screen1 embrace and     
uphold its walls of glass in an         
unequalled manner4  ,in strong contrast 
to this expressively graceful style is  

the ultraflorid type of ,st4 ,maclou1   
the other of that trinity of            
architectural splendours1 which1 with   
the ,cathedral of ,notre ,dame1 form the
 chief ecclesiastical monuments of the  
city4 ,st4 ,maclou1 which dates from the
 early fifteenth century1 though not of 
the grand proportions of either of the  
other great churches1 being rather of   
the type of the large parish church as  
it is known in ,england1 holds one      
spellbound by the very daring of its    
ornaments and tracery1 but contains no  
trace of non-,gothic4 ,the ,french      
passion for the curved line is nowhere  
more manifest than here 7and in the west
 front of ,notre ,dame71 where flowing  
tracery of window1 doorway1 portal1 and1
 in general1 all exterior ornament1 is  
startling in its audacity4 ,to view     
these two contrasting types before      
making acquaintance with the ,cathedral 
of ,notre ,dame itself1 is to prepare   
oneself for a consideration in some     
measure of a combination of the charms  

of both1 woven into one fabric4         
,nowhere1 at least in no provincial town
 of ,france1 are to be found such a     
categorical display of ecclesiastical   
architectural details as here4  ,rouen  
has from the second century been an     
important seat of ,christianity4 ,st4   
,nicaise1 not to be confounded with him 
of the same name of ,reims1 first held a
 conversion here and was shortly        
followed by ,st4 ,mellor1 who founded   
the city's first church1 on the site of 
the present cathedral4 ,in succeeding   
centuries this foundation gradually took
 shape and form until1 with the         
occupation by the ,norsemen under       
,rollo1 was founded a dynasty which     
fostered the development of theology and
 the arts in a manner previously        
unknown4 ,the cathedral was enlarged at 
this time1 and upon his death in #icj   
,rollo was interred therein1 as was also
 his son in #idc4 ,richard the ,fearless
 followed with further additions and    
enlargements1 his son ,richard being    

made its forty-third archbishop4 ,from  
this time on1 the great church-building 
era1 ,christian activities were notably 
at work1 here as elsewhere1 and during  
the prolific eleventh century great     
undertakings were in progress2 so much  
so that what was practically a new      
church received its consecration1 and   
dedication to ,our ,lady1 in #ajfc1 in  
the presence of him who later was to be 
known as the ,conqueror4 ,to-day it     
stands summed up thus--a grand building1
 rich1 confused1 and unequal in design  
and workmanship4  ,the lower portion of 
the northwest tower1 called the ,tour   
,st4 ,romain1 is all that is left of the
 eleventh-century building1 the         
remainder of which was destroyed by fire
 in #abjj4 ,rebuilding followed in      
succeeding years and shows work of many 
styles4 ,additions1 repairs1 and        
interpolations were incorporated with   
the fragment of the tower1 so that the  
structure as we now know it stood       
complete with the early thirteenth      

century4 ,viollet-le-,duc is the        
authority for the statement that the    
apse and transept1 chapels1 choir1 and  
two doorways of the west faade were     
quite complete before the influence of  
the perfected ,gothic of the ,isle of   
,france was even felt4 ,one ,enguerrand 
was the chief designer of the new       
church1 assisted by ,jean d',andeli as  
master mason4 ,the early century saw the
 nave chapels built1 having been        
preceded by the ,portail aux ,libraires1
 a sort of cloistered north entrance1   
still so referred to1 one of the most   
charming and quiet old-world retreats to
 be found to-day even within the        
hallowed precincts of a cathedral4 ,the 
,portail de la ,calende did not follow  
until a century later1 when the ,tour   
,st4 ,romain was completed to its roof2 
at which time was also added the screen 
or arcade which separates the ,portail  
aux ,libraires from the street4  ,this  
century1 too1 saw the beginning of the  
famous ,tour de ,beurre1 built mostly by

 the contributions of those who paid for
 the indulgence of being allowed to eat 
butter during ,lent4 ,its foundation was
 laid in #adhg under ,archbishop ,robert
 de ,croixmore1 and it was completed    
under ,cardinal d',amboise in #aejg4 ,a 
chapel at the base of the tower is      
dedicated to ,st4 ,stephen4 ,the ornate 
decorations of the west front1 added by 
,georges d',amboise1 are mainly of the  
sixteenth century and form no part of   
the original plan or design4 ,it borders
 upon the style we have since learned to
 decry1 but it is1 at least1 marvellous 
as to the skill with which its foliaged 
and crocketed pinnacles and elaborate   
traceries are worked4 ,ruskin was       
probably right in this estimate at      
least1--,the central gable is the most  
exquisite piece of pure flamboyant style
 extant4 ,at the present day this west  
front is undergoing such restoration and
 general repair that the entire gable1  
rose window1 and part of the flanking   
towers are completely covered with a    

most hideous array of scaffolding4  ,the
 central spire as it exists to-day1 in  
reality an abomination of abominations1 
is naturally enough admired by all when 
first viewed from afar4 ,it certainly   
looks not dwarfed1 or even fragile1 but 
simply delicate1 and withal graceful1 an
 opinion which ultimate association     
therewith speedily dispels4 ,it must be 
one of the very first examples of modern
 iron or steel erection in the world1   
dating from #ahbg1 following three      
former spires1 each of which was burned4
 ,the architect responsible for this    
monstrosity sought to combine two       
fabrics in incoherent proportions4 ,more
 than one authority decries the use of  
iron as a constructive element1 and     
,chaucer's description of the ,temple of
 ,mars in the ,knight's ,tale reads     
significantly3      ,wrought all of     
burned steel444       ,was long and     
straight and ghastly for to see4  ,the  
great part of the exterior of this      
remarkable church is closely hidden by a

 rather squalid collection of buildings4
 ,here and there they have been cleared 
away1 but1 like much of the process of  
restoration1 where new fabric is let    
into the old1 the incongruity is quite  
as objectionably apparent as the        
crumbling stones of another age4 ,notre 
,dame de ,rouen is singularly confined1 
but there seems no help for it1 and it  
is but another characteristic of the age
 in which it was built1--that the people
 either sought the shelter of churchly  
environment1 or that the church was only
 too willing to stretch forth its       
sheltering arms to all and sundry who   
would lie in its shadow4  ,in an        
assignment of ranking beauty to its     
external features1 the decorative west  
front must manifestly come first2 next  
the ,portail aux ,libraires1 with its   
arcaded gateway and the remains of the  
booksellers' stalls which still surround
 its miniature courtyard2 then1 perhaps1
 should follow the ,tour ,st4 ,romain   
and the ,portail de la ,calende1 with   

its charmingly recessed doorway and     
flanking lancet arches4 ,the sculptured 
decorations of all are for the most part
 intact and undisfigured4 ,the gable of 
the southern doorway rises pointedly    
until its apex centres with the radiated
 circular window above1 which1 by the   
way1 is not of the exceeding great      
beauty of the other two rose windows1   
which rank with those at ,reims and     
,chartres as the beaux ideals of these  
distinctly ,french achievements4  ,the  
interior1 viewed down the nave1 and     
showing its great length and that of the
 choir1 impresses one with a graver     
sense of unity in the manner of building
 than is possible to conceive with      
regard to the exterior4 ,the height and 
length both approximate that of ,st4    
,ouen1 and1 though the nave rises only  
to ninety-eight feet1 an effect of      
greater loftiness is produced by the    
unusual quadripartite range of openings 
from pavement to vaulting3 two rows of  
arches opening into the aisles before   

the triforium itself is reached4 ,the   
lantern at the crossing supports the    
ironwork spire1 and admits light to the 
centre of the church1 only to a small   
degree1 however4 ,the south transept1   
like that of the north1 with its ample  
double aisles1 is of great width1 and1  
were the framing of the great rose      
window of less angularity1 it would     
indeed produce a remarkable effect of   
grandeur4 ,the other windows1 and the   
arcading of the triforium1 are          
singularly graceful2 not lacking either 
strength or firmness1 though having no  
glass of great rarity or excellence4 ,in
 this transept is the altar of ,st4     
,romain1 a seventeenth-century work of  
little pretensions4  ,the north transept
 contains two features which give it    
immediate precedence over any other1    
when viewed from within3 its gracefully 
traceried rose window and fine glass1   
and the delightful stone staircase      
leading to the chapter library4 ,mere   
description cannot do this stairway     

justice4 ,renaissance it certainly is1  
and where we might wish to find nothing 
but ,gothic ornament1 it may prove      
somewhat of a disappointment2 but it is 
magnificent4 ,its white marble          
balustrading gleams in the strong light 
thrown from the western transept window 
and gives an unmistakable note of       
richness and sonority4 ,it was built    
late in the fifteenth century under     
orders of ,cardinal d',estonteville4    
,the upper doorway leads to the         
treasury1 and that of the first landing 
to the chamber in which were formerly   
kept the bibliographical treasures1 now 
housed in the special building which    
forms the western wall of the outside   
court4  ,the north and south aisles of  
the nave are broken into by a series of 
chapels1 the chief of which are the     
,chapel to ,st4 ,stephen in the base of 
the ,tour de ,beurre and du ,petit ,st4 
,romain1 where an abb or cur speaking   
the ,english tongue is often to be      
found4 ,on the south side is a chapel   

containing the tomb of ,william         
,longsword1 second ,duke of ,normandy1  
and son of ,rollo4  ,the great          
attraction of the choir1 far more than  
its beauties of architectural forms1    
shown in its graceful columns and deep  
graven capitals1 will be1 for most      
visitors1 its array of elaborate        
monuments1 including those of ,pierre   
and ,louis de ,breze1 of whom the       
former1 the ,grand ,seneschal of        
,normandy under ,charles ,,vii41 fell at
 ,monthery1 and was buried here in      
#adfe4 ,more pretentious is the tomb of 
,louis1 his grandson1 erected by his    
wife ,diane de ,poitiers1 with a        
significant inscription which the       
curious may be pleased to figure out for
 themselves4 ,this noble monument is one
 of those examples hesitatingly         
attributed to ,jean ,goujon4 ,the pice  
de rsistance is the ,renaissance tomb of
 the ,cardinals d',amboise4 ,georges ,i4
 was memorialized in #aeef by his nephew
 ,georges ,,ii41 who in turn came to    

share the same tomb4 ,both their        
kneeling figures are beautifully        
chiselled1 and the whole erection is    
gorgeously representative of the late   
sixteenth-century monumental work1      
little in keeping with the ,gothic      
fabric which houses it1 but             
characteristic of the changing thought  
and influence of its time4 ,six         
symbolical figures of the virtues form a
 lower course1 while the canopy is      
surmounted by nineteen figures of       
apostles1 saints1 etc4 ,in #agic the    
ashes of these great prelates were      
scattered to the winds1 but the effigies
 and their setting fortunately remained 
uninjured4 ,other archbishops of the    
cathedral are buried in the choir1 and  
the heart of ,richard ,coeur de ,lion   
once rested here1 as did also the bodies
 of his brother ,henry1 and ,john1 ,duke
 of ,bedford4  ,the choir stalls1 mostly
 the work of ,flemish wood-carvers1 are 
notable examples4  ,illustration        
,illustration3 ,basilique de ,st4 ,denis

     ,v  ,,basilique ,,de ,,st4 ,,denis 
,the ,basilica of ,st4 ,denis1 so-called
 to-day1 built over the remains of the  
martyred ,st4 ,denis1 is in a way the   
counterpart of the ,cathedral of ,reims1
 in that it also is intimately          
associated with the ,kings of ,france4  
,in the former they were1 almost without
 exception1 crowned2 and here1 at ,st4  
,denis1 are the memorials of their      
greatness1 and in many cases their      
actual tombs4 ,thus far and no farther  
may the similarity be said to exist4    
,the old ,abbey of ,st4 ,denis has      
little in common1 architecturally1 with 
the grand ,cathedral of ,notre ,dame de 
,reims4 ,of the two1 ,st4 ,denis is much
 the older foundation1 and from the     
point of view of romance and sentiment  
holds perhaps the premier place1 as     
well4  ,the history of the city is one  
of the most interesting and diversified 
of all in the domain of the ,kings of   
,france4 ,a ,benedictine abbey was      
founded here in the reign of ,dagobert  

,i41 and1 under the ,carlovingian       
dynasty1 immediately took on political  
as well as devout significance4 ,the    
,abbot of ,st4 ,denis journeyed to ,rome
 in #gea ,a4 ,d4 and secured for ,pepin 
the papal confirmation of his kingship4 
,pope ,stephen took refuge here from the
 ,lombards in #ged ,a4 ,d41 during which
 time he anointed the king's sons1      
,charles and ,charlemagne2 upon the     
consecration of which act ,pepin handed 
over to his sons the right and title to 
his dominions4  ,upon the advice of the 
,abbot ,suger1 ,louis ,,vi4 adopted the 
,oriflamme1 or standard of ,st4 ,denis1 
as the banner of the ,kings of ,france1 
and1 for long after1 its red and gold   
colourings hung above the altar1--only  
to be removed when the king should take 
the field in person4  ,ablard1 of famed 
romance1 was a monk of the abbey in the 
twelfth century2 and1 in the absence of 
the sovereign 7,louis ,,vii47 in the    
,holy ,land during the mid-century1 the 
,abb ,suger administered full well the  

affairs of the kingdom4 ,this renowned  
abbot and true lover of art died in     
#aaea at ,st4 ,denis4  ,in #adbi the    
,maid of ,orleans here delivered up her 
arms2 and a century and a half later    
that sturdy ,protestant1 ,henry1 abjured
 the faith to which he had hitherto so  
tenaciously clung4 ,in this church1 too1
 the great ,napoleon married ,marie     
,louise in #ahaj2 and his later         
namesake1 some fifty years after1       
erected a mausoleum in the crypt1 known 
as the ,caveau ,imperial1 the burial    
vault of his dynasty1 which1 however1   
has never been so used4  ,such in brief 
is the record of some of the more       
important affairs of church and state1  
which are identified with this fine old 
cathedral4 ,the usual books of reference
 give lengthy lists of the various tombs
 and monuments which exist4 ,it is a    
pity1 however1 that1 in spite of the    
laudable ambition of preserving here1 in
 a sort of kingly ,valhalla1 the memory 
of the rulers of a past age1 it has     

degenerated1 in turn1 to a mere         
show-place1 with little enough of the   
real sentiment remaining to satisfy the 
seriously inclined1 who perforce would  
wish to be reminded in some more subtle 
way than by a mere rush around the      
exhibits1 which is about all the        
half-hourly1 personally conducted       
excursions1 with appropriate fees to be 
delivered up here and there1 amounts to4
 ,but for this1 there would still be    
some of the charm and reverence which   
such a noble memorial should inspire1 in
 spite of the fact that revolution and  
desecration have played more than a     
usual share in the general derangement  
of the original plans4  ,up to the time 
of ,henry ,,iv41 the monarchs were      
mostly interred in separate tombs1 but1 
following him1 his immediate successors 
were buried in a common vault4 ,during  
the ,revolution1 the ,convention decreed
 that the royal tombs should be         
destroyed1 and so they mostly were1--the
 bodies dug up and interred1 if so the  

process can be called1 in a common      
grave4 ,in #ahag ,louis ,,xviii4 caused 
the remains of his ancestors1 as well as
 ,louis ,,xvi4 and ,marie ,antoinette1  
to be transferred here from the         
,madeleine1 and in turn he himself was  
buried here1 as well as the ,duc de     
,berry and several of his children4 ,the
 preservation of such of the tombs as   
survived the many vicissitudes to which 
they were put1 is due to the fact that  
many of them were at one time removed to
 the ,muse des ,petits-,augustines1 now 
the ,palace des ,beaux ,arts1 at ,paris2
 but in #ahag ,louis ,,xviii4 ordered   
them to be replaced in the crypt of ,st4
 ,denis2 not1 however1 on the sites     
which they formerly occupied1 but in an 
arbitrary manner which only the great   
abilities of ,m4 ,viollet-le-,duc1 who  
undertook their rearrangement and       
restoration1 were able to present in    
some coherent manner for the marvel of  
future generations4 ,there are now      
therein over fifty monuments and tombs1 

besides various statues1 medallions1 and
 other memorials4  ,from an             
architectural point of view1 we have to 
consider the ,basilique de ,st4 ,denis  
no longer a cathedral1 as one of the    
earliest ,gothic examples in ,france1   
though at first glance little enough of 
the true ,gothic feeling is apparent4   
,about the year #bge a chapel was built 
here above the grave of ,st4 ,dionysius1
 the first ,bishop of ,paris4 ,this was 
followed by a large basilica1 ultimately
 given over to the uses of monks of the 
,benedictine order4 ,evidences of this  
former construction are supposed by     
archologists to still remain1 but       
little1 earlier than the structure of   
the ,abb ,suger1 meets the eye to-day4  
,strong is the trace of the development 
from the ,romanesque faade1 completed in
 #aadj1 to pure ,gothic construction of 
a century later4 ,in this church is     
commonly supposed to be exhibited for   
the first time1 bearing in mind that the
 date of its consecration was #aadd1 a  

complete system of buttresses           
accompanying the pointed arch of the    
vaulting1 though in conjunction with    
semicircular vaulting in the choir      
aisles4  ,the west faade is the most    
notable part of ,suger's building4 ,it  
contains three deeply recessed round    
arched portals1 decorated with          
sculpture1 but so disfigured1 or at     
least modified from their original forms
 in an attempt to replace the ravages of
 time and spoliation1 that one can not  
well judge of their original merit4 ,the
 south portal shows symbolical figures  
of the months and of ,st4 ,dionysius in 
,prison2 the central doorway a ,last    
,judgment1 and the ,wise and ,foolish   
,virgins2 while the north portal depicts
 ,st4 ,dionysius on ,his ,way to        
,martyrdom1 and ,the ,signs of the      
,zodiac4  ,a curious and unusual effect 
of the upper portion of this grim faade1
 like a similar work at                 
,dol-de-,bretagne1 is a range of        
battlements which were erected for      

defensive purposes in the fourteenth    
century4 ,the nave rises high above     
this1 surmounted by a statue of ,st4    
,denis4 ,above the lateral portals of   
the faade are two towers1 that on the   
right rising two stages above the       
embattled crest1 while that on the left 
stops at that level4 ,the spire with    
which it was formerly surmounted was    
ruined by lightning early in the        
nineteenth century4  ,the choir1 with   
its radiating chapels1 is of a          
,romanesque order1 with the ,gothic     
attribute of the flying buttress in a   
high degree of development4  ,a general 
restoration was carried out in the      
thirteenth century by the successors of 
,suger1 the ,abbs ,eudes ,clement and   
,matthieu de ,vendme1 in the best       
,gothic of the time2 and it is to their 
excellently planned work that the       
general fine effect of the present      
interior arrangements may properly      
enough be accredited1 though for a fact 
it seldom is so4 ,a later restoration1  

the removing of the ruin wrought by the 
,revolution1 did not succeed so well4   
,it was not until the really great work 
of ,viollet-le-,duc1 under ,napoleon    
,,iii41 that this grand building finally
 took on again an acceptable form4  ,the
 general interior arrangements1 though  
to-day apparently subservient to the    
common attributes of a show-house with  
its innumerable guides1 functionaries1  
and fees1 are simple and impressive so  
far as structural elements are          
concerned4 ,as for decorations1 they are
 mostly to be found in that gorgeous    
array of monuments and tombs before     
mentioned4 ,the entrance proper1 or     
vestibule1 is of ,suger's era and is    
gloomy and dull1 in strong contrast with
 the noble and impressive nave1 which   
contains thirty-seven enormously high   
windows and a handsome triforium        
gallery4 ,this portion dates from the   
thirteenth century1 or immediately      
following ,suger's rgime4 ,the excellent
 stained glass is modern4 ,the transepts

 are mere rudimentary elements1         
suggested only by the interior          
arrangement of the piers1 and are simple
 and impressive4  ,illustration3        
,oriflamme of ,st4 ,denis               
,illustration3 ,,notre ,,dame de        
,,paris444  ,,vi  ,,notre ,,dame ,,de   
,,paris   ,of all the cathedrals of     
,france1 ,notre ,dame de ,paris is most 
firmly impressed on the minds of        
,english speaking people4 ,at least1 it 
is more familiarly known by all who     
visit that delectable land1 and perhaps 
rightly so4 ,poets have sung its        
praises1 and writers of all ranks have  
used it in well-nigh every possible     
fashion as an accessory2 indeed1 books  
almost without number have been written 
about it1 and around it4 ,this is as it 
should be1 for perhaps no great church  
is more worthy1 or more prolific in     
material4 ,for those who would probe    
deeply into its story1 there is but one 
way to acquire an intimate knowledge    
thereof1--to undertake a course of      

reading and study in some such way as a 
lawyer sets about reading up on a great 
case4 ,by no other method could be      
acquired a tithe of the commonly known  
facts regarding its past history2 hence 
the impossibility of attempting to deal 
fully in a few pages with this great    
church1 even in a perfunctory manner4   
,the most that can be safely ventured   
upon1 is to recount some of the facts4  
,how many have really noticed that none 
of the diagrams1 which show the         
ground-plan of this cathedral1 indicate 
the existence of any transepts8 ,take1  
for instance1 that which accompanies    
this volume1 which1 it may be said1 is  
drawn correctly1--beyond the omission of
 a couple of pillars on either side of  
the nave1 there is nothing to break into
 the long parallelogram-like structure1 
with an apsidal termination4 ,as a      
matter of fact1 there are a pair of very
 beautiful transepts1 as most           
photographs of the exterior1 and        
drawings of the interior1 show4 ,they   

are1 too1 in no way attenuated1 and are 
only lost in the ground-plan by reason  
of the fact that they follow the very   
unusual arrangement of not extending    
laterally beyond the ample width of the 
nave and its chapelled aisles4 ,the     
south transept faade1 with the portal   
dedicated to ,st4 ,stephen1 and two     
magnificent rose windows1 is            
unquestionably more pleasing than the   
west faade itself as to design and      
arrangement4  ,begun in #aafc and       
consecrated in #aahb1 the church has    
undergone many vicissitudes1 changes1   
and restorations4 ,it has fared ill on  
many occasions2 perhaps the greatest    
defilement being that which befell it   
during the ,revolution1 when it was not 
only foully desecrated1 its statues and 
other imagery despoiled1 but the edifice
 was actually doomed to destruction4    
,this fortunately was spared to it1 but 
in the same year 7#agic7 it became a    
,temple of ,reason1 one of those        
fanatical exploits of a set of madmen   

who are periodically let loose upon the 
world4 ,mysticism1 palaverings1 and     
orgies unspeakable took place between   
its walls1 and it only became sanctified
 again when ,napoleon caused it to be   
reopened as a place of divine worship4  
,again1 three-quarters of a century     
later1 it fell into evil times--when it 
was turned into a military rendezvous by
 the ,communards of '#ga4 ,in turn1 they
 too retreated1 leaving the church1 as  
they supposed1 to the mercy of the      
flames which they had kindled4          
,fortunately these were extinguished and
 the building again rescued from an     
untoward fate4  ,the thirteenth-century 
faade is usually accredited the finest  
part of the church4 ,it comes upon one  
as rather plain and bare after the      
luxuriance of ,amiens1 ,reims1 or       
,rouen4 ,as a model and design1 however1
 it has served its purpose well1 if     
other examples1 variously distributed   
throughout ,england and ,france1 are    
considered4 ,its lines1 in fact1 are    

superb and vary little in proportion or 
extent from what must perforce be       
accepted as ideal4 ,its portals are of  
good design1 and so also is such        
sculpture as survived the ravages of the
 past1 though the outlines of the       
doorways are severely plain4 ,a series  
of modern sculptured effigies of the    
kings1 replacing those destroyed at the 
,revolution1 forms a plain horizontal   
band across the entire front2 a none too
 graceful or pleasing arrangement of    
itself4 ,a rose window forty-two feet in
 width occupies the centre of the next  
stage1 flanked by two blunt-pointed     
windows rather bare of glass4 ,above is 
an arcaded gallery of small pointed     
arches in pairs1 also extending across  
the entire front4 ,the balustrade1      
above1 holds a number of grotesque      
creatures carved in stone4 ,they may be 
gargoyles1 but are not1 however1 in this
 case1 of the spout variety1 being some 
of those erections of a superstitious   
age which were so frequently added to a 

medival building2 though whether as a   
mere decoration1 or with greater        
significance1 authorities do not seem to
 agree4 ,the two uncompleted square     
towers overtop all1 pierced by the two  
great lancets1 which1 with respect to   
mere proportions1 are unusual if not    
unique4  ,the spire above the crossing  
is a wooden structure covered with lead1
 and dates only from the middle of the  
nineteenth century4 ,both the north and 
south transepts contain magnificent rose
 windows of even larger dimensions than 
that of the west faade4 ,the doorway of 
the south transept is ornamented with   
effective ironwork1 but otherwise the   
exterior presents no remarkable         
features4  ,to the artist's eye the gem 
of the building is undoubtedly the fine 
grouping and ensemble of the flying     
buttresses at the rear of the choir4    
,most persons1 so gifted1 have tried    
their prentice1 or their master1 hands  
at depicting this grand marshalled array
 of folded wings1 and1 but for the      

gruesome morgue at its foot1 which ever 
intrudes into the view1 one might almost
 say it is the most idyllic and most    
specious view of a great cathedral that 
it were possible to have4 ,were it not  
for this charming view of these         
buttressed walls1 with the river flowing
 at their feet1 the ,isle de la ,cit    
would be indeed a gloomy spot1 with its 
lurid historical past1 and its present  
gruesome association with the house of  
the dead4 ,indeed1 it has been          
questioned as to whether the choir and  
chevet of ,notre ,dame de ,paris is not 
the most beautiful extant4 ,the ,isle de
 la ,cit was the ancient island village 
of the ,parisii4  ,a sixteenth-century  
,dutch writer 7,de ,sauteuil7 has       
delivered himself of these few lines    
concerning the ,seine at this point3    
,when first it enters the metropolis it 
ambitiously stays its rapid course1 and1
 being truly enamoured with the place1  
forgets its way1 is uncertain whither to
 flow1 and winds in sweet meanders      

through the town2 thence filling the    
pipes with its waters4 ,that which was  
once a river1 joys to become a fountain4
  ,to carry the suggestion of contrast  
still farther one should read ,hugo's   
,notre ,dame on the spot4 ,it will give 
a wonderful and whimsical conception of 
those weird gargoyles and devils1 which 
have only to be seen to awaken a new    
interest in what this great writer has  
put forth4 ,for another sensation1      
pleasant or otherwise1 one might look up
 a copy of ,myron's wonderful etching of
 the same subject1 or refer to a most   
excellent monograph1 written not many   
years since1 entitled ,the ,devils of   
,notre ,dame4 ,the interior shows the   
earliest example wherein the double     
aisles of the nave are continued around 
the choir1 and the first introduction of
 the quadruple range of openings from   
the pavement to the vaulting4 ,the      
aisles and nave are of almost equal     
height4  ,the choir1 besides being      
merely apsided1 is1 in fact1 a true     

semicircle1 a sufficiently unusual      
arrangement in an early ,gothic church  
to be remarked2 and1 in addition1 is    
exceedingly narrow and lofty4 ,the glass
 of the rose windows is of old and      
gorgeous quality1 it having escaped     
destruction in ,revolutionary times1    
whereas that of the lower range of      
windows was mostly destroyed4  ,the     
choir stalls are of excellent wooden    
carving1 but the high altar is modern1  
dating only from #ahgd4 ,the choir      
screen1 of the fourteenth century1 shows
 twenty-three reliefs in stone1 once    
richly gilded1 but now tarnished and    
dull4  ,illustration3 ,notre ,dame de   
,paris from the ,river   ,,st4 ,,louis  
,,de ,,versailles  ,allied with the see 
whose jurisdiction includes the ,diocese
 of the ,department of the ,seine1      
should be considered that of ,seine and 
,oise1 which has its bishop's throne    
esconced in the ,cathedral of ,st4      
,louis at ,versailles4 ,to all intents  
and purposes the town is one of those   

conglomerate units which go to make up  
the traveller's ,paris4 ,more can hardly
 be said with due regard to the         
magnificent edifices with which this    
cathedral must naturally be classed4    
,the other attractions of this court    
suburb are so appealing to the          
sentimentally inclined that it is to be 
feared that such will have little eye   
for the very minor attractions of the   
cathedral4 ,the ,trianons1 the ,grandes 
,eaux and the ,petites ,eaux are all in 
all to the visitor to ,versailles4  ,as 
a matter of fact and record1 the        
,cathedral of ,st4 ,louis must be       
mentioned1 if only to be dismissed in a 
word4 ,bourase refers to it as a thing  
cold1 unfeeling1 and without life4      
,truthfully1 it is a remarkably ugly    
building of the middle eighteenth       
century1 with no details of note and no 
memorials worthy of even a passing      
regard1 except a monument to the ,duc de
 ,berry1 who died in #ahbj4 ,what       
embellishment is given to the interior1 

is accounted for by the exceeding ruddy 
glow shed by the contemporary coloured  
glass of the none too numerous windows4 
,illustration3 ,st4 ,julien2 ,le ,mans  
,,vii  ,,st4 ,,julien2 ,,le ,,mans   ,le
 ,mans1 like ,chartres1 sprang from an  
ancient ,celtic hill fort1 and1 through 
successive stages1 has since grown to a 
,roman1 a medival1 and finally a modern 
city4 ,it crowns the top of a very      
considerable eminence1 the like of      
which1 says ,professor ,freeman1 does   
not exist in ,england4 ,like ,chartres1 
too1 it has always retained the balance 
of power which has made it the local    
civil and ecclesiastical capital of its 
province4 ,it is1 too1 more closely     
associated in ,english minds than is    
,chartres1 forming as it did a part of  
the dominion of a common sovereign2 also
 by reason of being the birthplace of   
,henry ,,ii41 and the burial-place of   
,queen ,berengaria1 the wife of ,richard
 ,coeur-de-,lion4  ,le ,mans stands1    
without doubt1 in advance of ,chartres  

in the importance and number of its     
secondary churches1 as well as its      
ecclesiastical1 civil1 and military     
establishments in general4 ,in spite of 
all this1 the city has never ranked as  
of supreme importance as a ,european    
city2 nor did it ever attain the rank in
 ,gallic times1 that the events which   
have been woven around it would seem to 
augur4 ,to-day it is a truly            
characteristic1 large1 provincial town  
of little or no importance to the       
outside world4 ,self-sufficient as to   
its own importance1 and the events      
around which its local life circles1 it 
gives little indication of ever becoming
 more of a metropolis than it now is2   
indeed the census figures would indicate
 that the department1 of which it is the
 capital1 has remained stationary as to 
the numbers of its population1 since the
 ,revolution4  ,writers have endeavoured
 to carry the similarity to ,english    
interests and conditions still farther  
than the events of history really go to 

prove1 and have declared that ,maine and
 ,england should have united in         
repelling their common invader4         
,endeavour has also been made to trace  
similarity between the communistic      
principles of days gone by1 which took  
form here and at ,exeter across the     
,channel1 and have even remarked the    
similarity of the topographical features
 of the surrounding landscape1 wherein  
the country round about differs so from 
other parts of ,france1 being here      
rolling1 hilly1 and wooded1 as in       
certain parts of ,england2 and even     
stretching a point to include the       
hedgerows1 which1 it must be admitted1  
are more in evidence in ,maine than     
elsewhere in ,france4 ,but these        
observations apparently prove nothing   
except that the majority of persons     
probably know very little of the real   
conditions which exist in the provinces 
of ,france1 preferring rather that their
 journeyings afield should follow more  
the well-worn road of their compatriots4

  ,the ,cathedral of ,st4 ,julien well  
represents the two distinct epochs in   
which church architecture1 as it remains
 to us to-day1 was practised here1 and  
shows1 to well-nigh the fullest         
expression possible1 the two principal  
transformations of ,christian           
architecture4  ,as the ,angevin style   
partakes so closely of northern and     
southern types intermixed1 so the       
distinctive architectures of ,maine1 if 
such there be1 may be said to favour the
 styles of both ,normandy and ,anjou2 at
 least so far as the cathedral at ,le   
,mans shows a combination of ,angevin   
and ,norman detail4 ,the really         
distinctive southern influence is to be 
noted in the ,romano-,byzantine nave1   
the exterior of which1 so far as the    
western front is concerned1 is far more 
notable in the rigidness and austerity  
of its lines1 than by any richness of   
ornamentation or decoration4 ,nothing   
could be more simply plain than this    
portal1 and the wall and gable which    

surmount it4 ,a large bare window1 of   
the variety of that at ,angers1 stands  
above the doorway1 which1 itself1 lacks 
all attempt at embellishment4 ,what     
decoration the faade bears is after the 
true ,byzantine manner1 of the nature of
 brickwork displayed and set into the   
wall in geometrically angular fashion4  
,what sculpture there is1 two grotesque 
animals on either of the buttresses     
which flank the faade1 is of minor      
account4 ,this1 then1 is the extent of  
the detail of this severe western faade1
 the grand portal of the usually        
accepted great church being entirely    
lacking and evidently not thought of as 
a desirable detail when this portion of 
the structure was erected4 ,it has      
nothing of the prodigious art expression
 of the frontispieces of the grand      
,gothic churches of the north1 or of the
 less poverty-stricken ,byzantine       
decoration of its own ,meridional       
portal1 which1 in so far as the style   
can be said to take on richness of form1

 shows the transition tendencies of the 
early twelfth century4 ,this doorway is 
surmounted by a tympanum1 ornamented by 
a figure of the ,saviour surrounded by  
the four ,evangelists1 a subject which  
has always proved itself a highly       
successful and popular ecclesiastical   
symbol1 and one which in this case1 as  
in most others1 is well made use of4    
,all the figures have suffered          
considerably from the ravages of time1  
but retain much of their interest and   
charm in spite of such mutilation4 ,a   
tower of ,romanesque foundation1 but of 
fifteenth and sixteenth century         
completion1 flanks this south transept4 
,the ranking portion of this interesting
 church is its choir1 larger in         
superficial area than the entire        
cathedrals of ,noyon or ,soissons4 ,both
 from inside and out1 it is all that    
one's imagination could possibly invent4
 ,its great proportions are as          
harmonious and graceful as the lines of 
a willow-tree2 in fact1 as to general   

effect1 it may be set down as a thing of
 extraordinary grandeur1 worthy to rank 
with ,beauvais or ,amiens1 and yet      
different from either1 of a quality its 
very own4 ,at the commencement of the   
thirteenth century the canons obtained1 
from ,philip ,augustus1 permission to   
extend their church beyond the city     
walls in an easterly direction1 and then
 it was that this wonderful choir took  
shape4 ,the work was undertaken in #abag
 and was completed soon after the middle
 of the same century1 and the body of   
,st4 ,julien1 the first apostle to ,le  
,mans1 for whom the church was named1   
was placed therein by ,geoffroy de      
,loudon1 then bishop1 who decorated the 
windows of the choir with the           
magnificent glass with which they are   
still set4  ,from a certain distance to 
the eastward the cathedral at ,le ,mans 
presents a view of the choir1 unique in 
all the world4 ,other greater ones there
 are1 if mere height be concerned1 and  
others with more perfect appendages2 but

 none give the far-spreading effect of  
encircling chapels1 or are possessed of 
high springing buttresses of more grace 
or beauty than are seen here4 ,he was a 
rash man who ranked the flying          
buttresses as a sign of defective       
construction1 indicating structural     
weakness1 meaningless and undecorative  
ornament1 and what not4 ,few have agreed
 with this dictum1 and few ever will    
after they have seen ,paris1 ,beauvais1 
and ,le ,mans4  ,the interior is one of 
great interest2 the nave1 even in its   
early forms1 is none the less attractive
 because of its austerity4 ,it is1 as a 
matter of fact1 far more interesting    
here than in its exterior1 the swarthy  
circular pillars holding aloft arches   
with just a suspicion of the ogival     
style1 with narrow1 low1 and            
disproportionately small windows in the 
aisles1 where are also a series of      
strengthening pillars of black and white
 stone1 presenting again a reminiscence 
of the southern manner1 or at least     

recalling the slate and stone of        
,angers4 ,in the choir1 with its        
girdling chapels and double ambulatory1 
we come upon the most impressive portion
 of all4 ,slightly orientated from the  
east and west1 it presents by itself1   
like ,beauvais1 nearly all of the       
attributes of a great church4 ,the      
columns1 arcades1 and windows throughout
 are all of an unusual elegance and     
grace1 the vaulting rising with much    
daring to a remarkable height1 which    
must approach one hundred and ten or    
more feet1 and the equal of certain     
other popularly notable buildings4  ,the
 rose window of the south of the        
transept is a remarkable example of     
these masterpieces of the ,french       
builder4 ,the framing and the glass with
 which it is set is of the richest      
quality1 though it dates only from the  
fifteenth century4 ,the organ case is   
here found in the south transept1 an    
unusual arrangement in a ,french church1
 where it is usually placed over the    

western doorway4 ,the vaulting1 too1 is 
much loftier here than in the nave4 ,the
 aisles of this remarkable choir have   
the further unusual attribute of three  
ranges of openings1 while the           
clerestory1 only1 rises above1 but with 
great and imposing beauty4 ,there are a 
few funeral monuments of more than      
ordinary interest1 including that of    
,queen ,berengaria1 wife of ,richard1   
the ,lion-,hearted1 brought from the    
,abbey de l',epau in #ahba2 a           
sarcophagus and statue in white marble  
of ,charles of ,anjou1 ,count of ,maine1
 ,king of ,jerusalem and ,sicily 7d4    
#adgb71 and the mausoleum of ,langey du 
,bellay4 ,in the north aisle are a      
number of fifteenth or sixteenth century
 tapestries4 ,the former bishop's palace
 was burned by the ,germans in #ahga4   
,illustration3 ,notre ,dame de          
,chartres4  ,,viii  ,,notre ,,dame ,,de 
,,chartres   ,aside from their          
wonderful1 though non-similar1          
cathedrals1 ,chartres and ,le ,mans1 its

 neighbour1 have much in common4 ,both  
have been possessed of a brilliant array
 of counts and prelates1 both grew from 
a ,celtic village to their present grand
 proportions through a series of        
vicissitudes1 wars1 and conquests1 until
 to-day each is preminent within its own
 sphere1 and has become not only a      
centre of ecclesiastical affairs1 but of
 civil life as well4  ,the ,counts of   
,chartres and of ,blois1 in the middle  
ages1 were a powerful race of men1 and  
should ever be associated with profound 
respect in ,english minds by the fact   
that here was the birthplace of ,adela1 
the mother of ,king ,stephen of ,blois1 
and of ,henry1 ,bishop of ,winchester4  
,as for local conditions to-day1        
,chartres1 while having grown to the    
state which it now occupies through     
events which have made it a city of     
mark1 remains a somnolescent1 sparsely  
built town1 with little suggestion of   
the progress of modernity4 ,more        
frequently mentioned in the note-books  

of the traveller than ,le ,mans1 it     
offers perhaps no greater charms4 ,to be
 sure1 its cathedral1 by reason of its  
open situation and the charming quality 
and effect produced by its spires and   
its one hundred and thirty windows of   
coloured glass1 at once places it at the
 very head amongst the great show pieces
 of ,france2 but it is in connection    
with ,le ,mans1 scarcely eighty miles   
away and so little known1 that it ought 
really to be studied and considered2    
which as a matter of fact it seldom is4 
,the city is hardly in keeping with what
 we are wont to associate with the      
environment of a great cathedral1 though
 this of itself in no way detracts from 
its charms4 ,the weekly cattle-market   
takes place almost before its very      
doors1 and the battery of hotels which  
flank the open square present the air of
 catering more to the need of the       
husbandman than to the tourist2--not a  
wholly objectionable feature1 either4   
,beyond such evidences as an occasional 

sign-board announcing the fact that the 
hostelry possesses a garage1 fosse1 or  
what not for the necessitous            
requirements of the automobilist1 the   
inns remain much as they always were1   
mere bourgeoise caravansaries4  ,the    
,cathedral of ,notre ,dame de ,chartres 
jumps full into view immediately on     
leaving the railway station1 though here
 it is to be noted that no delineation  
has ever been made by modern hand which 
shows its faade in its entirety4 ,the   
roofs of the houses and shops around its
 base indicate no special squalor or    
poverty1 as is the case with regard to  
some ,continental churches1 and there is
 a picturesque grouping of firs and     
poplars to the left which adds          
considerably to an already pleasing     
prospect4 ,the whole grouping is1       
perhaps1 none the less attractive than  
if the faade1 with those extraordinarily
 beautiful non-contemporary spires1     
stood quite unobstructed4 ,in fact1 it  
is doubtful if many a monumental shrine 

might not lose considerably1 were it    
taken from its environment and placed in
 another which might not suit its graces
 so well4  ,these really fascinating    
spires1 famed of all writers1           
archologists1 and painters alike1 are   
the clef by which the whole harmony is  
sounded4 ,one cannot but echo1 and      
recho1 all that has been said of them1  
though in a quandary as to which of the 
two is the more beautiful3 the plain1   
simple1 symmetrical1 older spire1 or    
that wonderful work of ,texier's1       
replacing another burned in #aejf1 which
 rises in gently sculptured and tapered 
ranges to a height which exceeds its    
companion by some twenty-five feet4 ,no 
more appropriate or convincing wording  
could be given of it than by quoting    
,fergusson's estimate1 which sums it up 
as being the most beautifully designed  
spire in ,europe1 surpassing even       
,strasburg and ,antwerp4  ,it is rather 
a pity that from no suitably near-by    
point can one obtain a full view of the 

effect of the western faade4 ,one poor  
little house seems ever to thrust itself
 into the ensemble1 though it is to-day 
apparent that certain others1 which must
 have cut into the front still more1    
have been cleared away4 ,clearly1 with  
all its charm and beauty of detail1 it  
is for its great and general            
excellencies that the cathedral at      
,chartres most impresses itself upon the
 memory4  ,visitors to-day will have no 
easy task in locating ,lowell's little  
pea-green inn1 in which he indited the  
lines1 ,a ,day in ,chartres2 as         
appreciative and graceful an estimate of
 an inanimate thing as ever was made in 
verse3      ,the ,grecian gluts me with 
its perfectness     ,unanswerable as    
,euclid1 self-contained1     ,the one   
thing finished in this hasty world4     
,but ah6 this other1 this that never    
ends1     ,still climbing1 luring fancy 
still to climb1     ,as full of morals1 
half divined1 as life1     ,graceful1   
grotesque1 with ever new surprise       

,of hazardous caprices1 sure to please1 
,heavy as nightmare1 airy light as fern1
     ,imagination's very self in stone4 
,among the other attractions of the west
 faade is the ,porte ,royale1 so called1
 the central doorway which was only     
opened for the entrance of the          
sovereign4 ,it is decorated with the    
signs of the zodiac and symbols of the  
months4 ,next in point of richness are  
the grandly effective north and south   
porches1 with their triple doorways or  
portals1 setting back some twenty feet  
from their jambs1 which1 as at ,noyon1  
and in the smaller church at ,louviers1 
are pierced with a transverse passage4  
,the north porch1 with its range of     
three open-sided and deeply recessed    
doorways1 has unmistakably debased      
tendencies1 but is filled with          
sculptured statuary of more than        
ordinarily effective disposition1 more  
remarkable for magnitude and ornateness 
than for finesse of skill and           
workmanship1 or even as a detail of good

 taste4  ,the life-size statues of all  
three recesses are held aloft by        
pedestals1 on pillars of twisted and of 
spiralled trunks1 a formation reviled by
 ,ruskin1 but producing an effect much  
more pleasing than some galleries of    
effigies we have seen1 where the figures
 appear as if hung up by the hair of    
their heads1 or are clinging to the     
walls by invisible spurs at their heels1
 or1 as is not infrequently the case1   
are standing or hung on nothing1 as     
though they were graven of some         
bewitched magnetic stone4 ,here for the 
first time is seen1 in the sculptured   
figures of the three great portals1 the 
plastic forms which were to add so      
greatly to the ,gothic architecture3    
male and female saints1 ,evangelists1   
and ,apostles in great array1 all       
somewhat more than life-size4 ,only one 
adverse impression is cast3 that of     
petrifaction4 ,the figures1 almost      
without exception1 appear as integral   
parts of the architectural fabric1      

rather than as added ornament4 ,they are
 most ungainly1 tall1 stiff1 and        
column-like1 much more so than similar  
works at ,reims1 or at ,amiens1 where   
the sculpture has something of the      
vigour and warmth of life4  ,the south  
porch1 erected in the reign of ,henry   
,i4 by ,jean ,cormier1 partly from      
donations of ,matilda1 queen of the     
,norman ,conqueror1 contains a series of
 basso relievos1--seen also in the      
arches of the choir1--manifestly not of 
good ,gothic principle1 and one which is
 the very antithesis of the northern    
spirit1 as the name itself implies4     
,the earliest portion of the existing   
church1 the crypt1 is that of a         
timber-roofed structure burned in #ajbj4
 ,it was erected early in the eleventh  
century by ,fulbert1 the famous ,bishop 
of ,chartres1 also remembered--possibly 
revered--as being the prolific          
letter-writer of his time4  ,john of    
,salisbury was bishop in the next       
century1 and under him were built the   

lower stages of the western faade and   
towers4 ,in this church ,edward ,,iii4  
called for the help of ,heaven to aid   
his plans1 and here ,henry of ,navarre  
was crowned ,king of ,france1 a change  
of venue from ,reims1 where so many     
previous and subsequent coronations were
 held4  ,the interior gives a deal of   
the thrill for which one should always  
be prepared4 ,the gloom1 so apparent at 
first1 slowly brightens as the eye      
becomes accustomed to the finely        
filtered light1 which penetrates through
 the gorgeous coloured glass1 a feature 
which ranks with the spires as a vivid  
impression to be carried away4 ,nearly  
all of this glass is of equal worth and 
attractiveness1 being1 with the         
exception of three windows of a late    
date1 and a few uncoloured ones1 all of 
the gorgeous thirteenth-century variety4
  ,the whole mass of the clerestory     
throughout gives the effect of windows  
heavily hung with tapestries through    
which the outside light pierces in      

minute rays4 ,this comparison is made   
advisedly1 inasmuch as1 regardless of   
the quality and value of the glass1 it  
is composed mainly of those minute and  
fragmentary particles often more rich in
 colour than design4  ,there is little  
doubt but that the result of the deep   
rich blue1 claret1 and orange gives a   
first effect of insufficient lighting   
which would try an artist or            
photographer sorely1 though not a       
detracting element in churches which    
would often appear cold and unconvincing
 were such an attribute lacking4 ,there 
are also three magnificent rose windows 
of great size 7thirty to forty feet71   
containing equally good glass4  ,a      
double ambulatory surrounds the         
seven-chapeled choir1 which is further  
enclosed by a magnificent sculptured    
stone screen begun in the sixteenth     
century by ,texier1 who designed the    
marvellous north spire4 ,the ,vierge du 
,pilier of the north choir aisle1 a     
fifteenth-century shrine1 is the subject

 of great local veneration4 ,the        
treasury contains a relique in the form 
of the veil of the ,virgin1 supposed to 
have been presented by ,charlemagne to  
,princess ,irene4  ,other interior      
details of note are an eleventh-century 
font2 the large crypt beneath the choir2
 the unequal level of the pavement of   
nave and choir2 and the maze1 which     
still exists in the nave4 ,this last    
feature is a winding circular path some 
forty odd feet in diameter1 and1 in all1
 perhaps a thousand feet long4 ,as a    
penance in place of a pilgrimage to     
,jerusalem1 the journey of the maze was 
performed by the penitent on his        
knees--taking perhaps an hour or more1  
according to the size and length of the 
path1 which varied with different       
churches where they formerly existed4   
,the other most notable example in      
,france is at ,st4 ,quentin1 northeast  
of ,paris4     ,,ix  ,,notre ,,dame ,,de
 ,,reims   ,the very ancient city of    
,reims1 now the capital of the          

,department of the ,marne1 was a large  
centre of population when it first fell 
under the sway of the ,romans4 ,during  
,csar's occupation it was known as      
,duroctorum1 in the ,prfecture of the   
,gauls4  ,a powerful metropolis and a   
faithful adherent of the ,romans1 the   
city early attained prominence as a     
centre of ,christianity4 ,st4 ,sixte    
preached the word here shortly after the
 first bishopric was founded1 after     
capture by the ,vandals in #djf ,a4 ,d4 
,the city was practically razed by      
,attila1 who afterward met defeat at    
,chalons4 ,during the ,roman ,empire it 
was the most important town of the      
,province of ,belgica ,secunda1 later   
becoming known as the capital of the    
,remi1 the name given to the people     
inhabiting the country round about4     
,illustration3 ,,notre ,,dame de ,,reims
 444  ,in #ejh ,a4 ,d4 the ,franks under
 ,childeric captured the city1 and in   
#gbj ,a4 ,d4 ,charles ,martel captured  
it from ,bishop ,rigobert4 ,here1 too1  

,pope ,stephen had his famous interview 
with ,pepin1 and attended the crowning  
of ,louis le ,dbonnaire in #haf ,a4 ,d4 
,in #gdd it was made an archbishop's    
see1 with suffragans at ,amiens1        
,beauvais1 ,chalons1 and ,soissons4 ,it 
is to-day the ecclesiastical capital of 
,france--the ,archbishop of ,reims being
 the metropolitan prelate4  ,clovis1 son
 of ,childeric1 ,king of the ,ripuarian 
,franks1 in #dif ,a4 ,d4 conquered the  
last ,roman stronghold at ,soissons1    
and1 having married a ,burgundian       
princess1 ,clotilda1 was induced to     
accept ,christianity4 ,he was           
accordingly baptized here by ,st4 ,remi 
on ,christmas ,day1 #dif ,a4 ,d4  ,leo  
,,iii4 met ,charlemagne here2 a council 
was held in #aaai ,a4 ,d4 by ,calixtus  
,,ii4 in an attempt to reconcile ,henry 
,i4 and ,louis le ,gros2 and1 later1    
another1 to excommunicate another       
,henry4  ,succeeding years saw a        
continuity of archbishops1 who achieved 
by their religious works a world-wide   

fame and glory4 ,in these early days    
they held the temporal as well as       
spiritual power of the cities1 and in   
some instances even coined their own    
specie4  ,in spite of the changes of the
 times and conditions of life1 the      
ancient capital of ,belgica ,secunda    
still remains the chief city of the     
,departments of the ,marne1 ,ardennes1  
and ,aisne4 ,its ecclesiastical and     
secular monuments1 headed by the grand  
,cathedral of ,notre ,dame1 form an     
array which is well worthy of such      
extended consideration as the traveller 
or student can give4 ,the ,benedictine  
,abbey1 the ,church of ,st4 ,remi1 is   
likewise notable in all of its          
dimensions and details4 ,its            
construction dates from #aafb-aejf1     
though the remains of a former          
tenth-century structure are made use of 
therein4 ,its chief treasure is the tomb
 of ,st4 ,remi1 a wonderful ,renaissance
 funeral monument of imposing           
proportions4 ,another monumental feature

 of more than unusual note1 is the      
magnificent ,roman arch of the former   
fortress of ,porte ,mars4 ,this truly   
majestic specimen of the work of the    
,roman builder is supposed to have been 
erected by ,agrippa in #be ,b4 ,c41 in  
honour of ,augustus1 although another   
authority puts it as late as the period 
of ,julian1 #cfa ,a4 ,d4 ,at any rate1  
it has stood the rigours of a northern  
clime as well as any ,roman memorial    
extant2 indeed1 has seen fall all its   
contemporaries of the city1 for at one  
time ,reims was possessed of no less    
than three other gateways1 bearing the  
pagan nomenclature of ,ceres1 ,mars1 and
 ,venus4  ,the various other memorials  
of the city are on a no less grand      
scale1 but the average person will      
hardly have eyes and ears for more than 
a contemplation of the wealth of        
splendour to be seen in its overpowering
 cathedral4 ,of the glorious group of   
monumental churches of northern ,france1
 the ,cathedral of ,notre ,dame de      

,reims1 if not admittedly the most      
beautiful and memorable ,gothic edifice 
in all ,france1 needs but little        
qualifying comment4 ,it has a preminence
 which has been generally conceded1 and 
even elaborately endorsed1 by most      
observers qualified to pass opinion     
hereon4 ,contemplation of the wealth of 
detail1 and of the disposition of its   
wonderful west front1 no less than of   
its general excellencies1 can but compel
 the decision that in its exterior1 at  
least1 the ,cathedral of ,reims is the  
peer of any existing ,gothic fabric4    
,though less huge than ,strasburg or    
,cologne1 and lacking the doubled tier  
of flying buttresses of the latter1 it  
is altogether the most splendid and     
well-proportioned ,gothic mass extant4  
,the diminishing or pyramidal effect of 
the towers and gable of this west faade 
is an exemplification of the true       
symmetry of ,gothic form4 ,lofty1 and   
not closely hemmed in by surrounding    
structures1 it looms1 from any adjacent 

view-point1 fully two-thirds of its     
decorated splendour above the general   
skyline round about4 ,aside from modern 
adulation we have the praise of an early
 historian1 who delivers himself thus3  
,decor et majestes praeclarissime hugus 
structurae omnem scribendi peritiam     
longe superat1 ob elegantum omnibus est 
admirationi1 at que sibi similem non    
habet in tota ,gallia4--,met4 ,rememsis 
,hist4 ,dom4 ,guliol4 ,marlot ,s4       
,nicasii ,rem4 ,prioris1 ,tom ii4 p4    
#dgj4  ,following the preaching of ,st4 
,remi1 and the murder of ,st4 ,nicaise1 
who founded a church on this site in    
#djj ,a4 ,d41 ,ebo1 bishop in #hah ,a4  
,d41 laid the foundations of a new      
church1 ,louis ,i4 granting that such   
material as might be needed be taken    
from the city wall4 ,to assist1 the     
sovereign also sent his architect1      
,rumaldi4 ,in #hdg ,a4 ,d4 ,archbishop  
,nicman secured a renewal of the        
privileges1 and in the presence of the  
king the building was consecrated in    

#hfb ,a4 ,d4 ,the western entrance was  
ornamented with graven statues of ,louis
 ,i41 the patron1 ,pope ,stephen1 and   
the archbishop himself4  ,this entire   
fabric succumbed to fire on the #fth of 
,may1 #abaj1 and the present structure  
rests merely on the remains of the      
ancient crypt1 which in a measure       
survived4 ,few visible remains of this  
ancient foundation are to-day visible4  
,the new church reared itself rapidly   
under the immediate supervision of the  
,archbishop ,alberic de ,humbert4 ,the  
choir1 begun within two years of the    
fire1 made such progress as to allow of 
the high altar being ceremoniously      
dedicated within three years2 and1      
before the middle of the century1 the   
records tell us that the main body of   
the church was entirely completed4 ,the 
right tower was uncompleted at this     
time1 but was finished by ,cardinal     
,philastre in #adcj1 up to which time   
intermittent labour had evolved a       
superlative combination of constructive 

and decorative excellencies4 ,the       
extreme lightness of the west front is  
brought more and more to impress itself 
upon one by reason of the consistent    
disposition of the excellency and       
delicacy of its sculptured ornament4    
,this western front1 from the grand     
portals upward1 is the apogee of ,french
 ,gothic ornament1--at once the         
admiration and boast of all ,france4    
,here is no mixture or confusion of     
style1 in design or decoration4 ,the    
pointed arches of window and doorway are
 of the accepted best manner1 the heavy 
detail is placed low and rises          
gracefully to the ,gallery of ,kings1 a 
grand succession of stone effigies of   
royalties from ,clovis to ,charles      
,,vii41 a decorative arrangement not    
made use of elsewhere to anything like a
 similar extent1 a fact which of itself 
stamps the cathedral as the royal church
 of ,france4 ,conceived by one ,gaucher1
 the portals are not only superior to   
all others in richness1 depth1 and      

quality of the sculpture shown in the   
hundreds of figures with which they are 
peopled1 but are of exceedingly true and
 appropriate dimensions1 taken in       
relation with the other parts of their  
setting4 ,immediately above the gable of
 the central portal is a wonderful rose 
window1 of the spoke variety1 containing
 thirty-four sections1--of immense size 
and nearly forty feet across4 ,this most
 perfect rose1 designed by ,bernard de  
,soissons1 may well be credited as one  
of the masterworks of architectural     
decoration in all the world4 ,flanking  
this great window on either side are two
 open lancet arches1 while above is the 
,gallery of ,kings before mentioned4    
,the twin mullioned towers on either    
side rise for two hundred and           
sixty-seven feet4 ,light and airy1 they 
depend for their effect of grace and    
symmetry entirely upon structural       
design1 lacking sculptured ornament of  
any kind4 ,formerly they possessed      
spires of a great height1 which1        

however1 were destroyed by fire in the  
fifteenth century4  ,were all its       
original attributes complete1 says      
,fergusson1 we should have the beau     
ideal1 externally1 of a cathedral4 ,this
 is probably an adaptation of           
,viollet-le-,duc's estimate1 which he   
expresses thus3 ,this west faade is the 
most splendid conception of the         
thirteenth century1--,paris1 like ,laon1
 being really a transition example1     
,amiens representative of different     
epochs1 ,chartres a mere reunion of     
fragments1 and ,bourges and ,rouen a    
mlange of three centuries4  ,the south  
transept portal1 which is of great      
breadth1 contains statues of the        
,archbishops of ,reims1 and one of      
,clovis4 ,a similar doorway on the north
 side1 though now walled up1 contains1  
in the tympanum1 a fine sculptured ,last
 ,judgment1 while the transept itself   
houses one of those great clocks so     
frequently met with in ,continental     
churches1--in this instance said to be  

the oldest running time-piece in        
existence4  ,seven flying buttresses1   
between the transept and the west front1
 flank the nave1 each holding aloft an  
elegantly canopied niche containing a   
full-length winged figure1 a further    
unique arrangement being a similar      
figure which caps or pinnacles the outer
 piers1 from which the buttresses       
spring4 ,above the point of contact of  
the buttresses with the main body1 runs 
an effective balustrade of small pointed
 arches1 while the abside shows1 again1 
a wonderful combination of the buttress 
as a decorative and utile feature1      
combined4  ,the exterior may be summed  
up briefly as being the most gorgeously 
peopled and decorated structure of its  
age--as though it were expressly        
designed to show off this great throng  
of statues to the best possible         
advantage4 ,taken collectively1 the     
series forms1 says one writer1 the most 
complete and magnificent collection of  
medival iconography extant4 ,the figures

 were originally perhaps as many as five
 thousand1 representing nearly all the  
families of mankind4  ,in size the      
,cathedral of ,reims ranks third among  
the four largest in ,france1 being      
exceeded only by ,amiens and ,chartres1 
while ,paris is slightly smaller4  ,the 
interior presents by no means the       
awe-inspiring grandeur of the exterior  
mass1 and is possibly inferior to both  
,amiens and ,chartres1 and though well  
disposed1 lacks the lightness of        
,cologne or ,beauvais4 ,a first         
impression rather indicates large       
proportions of length1 breadth1 and     
height in the nave1 though these        
dimensions are not actually of the      
greatest4 ,the transepts1 including     
their aisles1 are1 however1 of an       
extreme width1 but very short2 and the  
absence of side chapels1 either here or 
in the nave1 produces a regularity of   
outline unusually convincing4  ,the nave
 piers1 of which there are ten on either
 side1 with two window piercings1 are of

 a manifestly heavy order1 the capitals 
unusually so1 being very deep and       
weighty with carving in high relief4    
,the triforium is severely plain1 being 
a mere shallow gallery of small pointed 
arches4 ,the nave itself is1 moreover1  
somewhat gloomy1 when contrasted with   
the brilliant lighting of the aisles1   
caused by the peculiar arrangement of   
plain and coloured glass1 the former    
filling the windows of the clerestory   
and the latter those of the aisles1 the 
reverse being the case with the opposite
 ranges4 ,the aisles have no chapels    
between the rather low windows1 but     
groups of clustered columns against the 
walls4 ,the vaulting is deep1 with      
simple ribs1 coloured with a blue ground
 spangled with stars and fleurs-de-lys4 
,the choir is surrounded by seven       
chapels4  ,there are ten columns in the 
choir1 all with beautifully wrought     
capitals4 ,the pavement here is composed
 of marble taken from ,libergier's abbey
 church of ,st4 ,nicaise1 from which    

edifice1 since destroyed1 was           
transferred the tomb of ,jovinus1 the   
,roman prefect of ,reims1 who became    
converted in #cff ,a4 ,d4 ,the          
sarcophagus consists of a huge block of 
marble1 nine feet by four1 with a figure
 of ,jovinus1 lion hunting on horseback1
 carved in high relief4 ,the roof of the
 choir is curiously constructed of wood1
 of chestnut1 say the authorities1 as no
 spiders are found4 ,the high altar1 as 
reconstructed by ,poncelet ,paroissien  
in #aeej1 was a very beautiful affair if
 old prints1 usually none too reliable  
as to detail1 are regarded4 ,it was1    
however1 destroyed during the middle of 
the eighteenth century4  ,the glass of  
the rose window dates in part from the  
period of the greatest richness         
7thirteenth century74  ,the sepulchral  
monuments1 aside from the sarcophagus of
 ,jovinus1 are to-day practically nil1  
having been swept away during the       
terrors of the ,revolution4 ,two        
interesting effigies still remain1      

however1 near the western doorway1 a    
figure of a mailed knight and an abbess4
  ,among the real riches of the         
,cathedral are the remarkable and unique
 tapestries2 well preserved1 and of the 
finest quality of design and texture4   
,fourteen1 by ,lenoncourt1 date from    
#aecj-gj2 those in the south aisle1 the 
,pepersacks1 the gift of ,abb ,lorraine1
 from #afdj2 and the modern ,gobelins of
 the nineteenth century1 the gift of the
 government4 ,the ,tresor1 which        
includes the church plate1 most of which
 appears to have endured the ravages of 
invasion and wars1 is truly magnificent 
and intrinsically of great value4 ,the  
chief of these are3 the chalice of ,st4 
,remi1 of the eleventh century2 a       
reliquary containing a thorn from the   
,holy ,crown2 the marble font in which  
,clovis was baptized in #dif ,a4 ,d42   
the chasuble of ,louis ,,xiii41 and the 
,sainte ,ampoule1 which contained the   
holy oil brought by a dove from heaven  
for use at the conversion of ,clovis1   

now a mere fragment enclosed in a modern
 setting1 after having been ruthlessly  
shattered by a sans-culotte in #agic4   
,adjoining the ,cathedral1 on the right1
 is the ,episcopal ,palace1 which1 with 
its dependencies1 occupies a hectare or 
more of ground4 ,in the first courtyard 
is the modern library building1 which   
houses the cathedral's rich             
bibliographical treasures4 ,further1    
through a gateway1 is a structure1 in   
itself a grand building1 of the time of 
,louis ,,xiv4 ,the right wing was       
constructed by ,le ,tellier in #afij4   
,this portion is now occupied as a      
dwelling by the archbishop4 ,at the end 
of the furthest courtyard is ,the ,house
 of the ,kings1 a truly grand           
establishment1 so called in the official
 documents because it was the logement  
of the monarchs who visited the city on 
affairs of state4 ,this recalls to mind 
not the least notable of the functions  
performed by the great cathedral itself4
  ,with four exceptions all the ,kings  

of ,france1 from ,clovis to ,charles    
,x41 here first entered into their      
kingly state4 ,the monarchs of ,france  
were a long and picturesque line1 and   
the ceremonies attendant upon their     
coronations were accordingly imposing   
and magnificent4 ,the culmination1 for  
theatrical splendour and effect1 was    
doubtless that of ,charles ,,vii41 who1 
through the efforts of the ,maid1 here  
came into his own4 ,it was a splendid1  
if gaudy1 pageant1 and the most         
memorable event among that long series  
which only ended with the coronation of 
,charles ,x4 in #ahbc4     ,,part ,,iii 
,the ,cathedrals of the ,loire     ,i   
,,introductory   ,the ,loire ,valley for
 its whole length may1 in every sense1  
be well considered the dividing-line    
between northern and southern           
influences4 ,the romance and sentiment  
which cradled itself here could only    
have emanated from the more languid     
south1 and from vastly differing        
conditions to those of the colder north4

 ,the admiration usually bestowed upon  
the attractions of its domestic         
architectural forms is1 no doubt1 fully 
merited2 albeit that the cathedrals of  
these wealthy and powerful communities  
are1 no one can possibly deny1 if not of
 a mongrel type1 at least of a          
degenerate one4 ,it is perhaps hardly   
fair to note such an expression without 
qualification where it is applied to    
,st4 ,gatien at ,tours1 which is really 
a delightfully picturesque structure2 or
 to ,st4 ,maurice1 at ,angers1 which is 
unique as to its charm of situation1 and
 one of the most interesting churches   
anywhere to be found4 ,but the fact is  
that the general plan and design is not 
only open here to much just criticism1  
but is not of the order of consistency  
which alone entitles an architectural   
monument to rank as truly great4 ,in no 
instance1 from ,orleans to ,nantes1 are 
the cathedrals of these cities possessed
 of the consistent array of charms which
 would entitle them to a proportionate  

share of the admiration which is usually
 accorded to the great domestic         
establishments1 the ,chateaux of ,blois1
 ,chenonceau1 ,chambord1 ,langeais1 or  
,loches4  ,the climatic conditions of   
this region hardly more than intimate   
the suggestion of the southland1 but    
there is to be seen in the vineyards1   
and indeed in things that grow1         
generally1 a notable tendency toward a  
luxuriance that is not found northward  
of this valley4 ,productive1 prosperous1
 influential1 and possessed of          
historical and sentimental associations 
as a touring ground far beyond any other
 section of ,france1 the ,valley of the 
,loire at once takes rank as the land   
par excellence where the traveller can  
be sure of a maximum of pleasure and    
profit2 and one worthy in every way of  
as prolonged study and sojourn as one's 
possibilities and circumstances will    
allow4  ,the towns group themselves     
naturally en suite in the following     
order3 ,orleans1 ,blois1 ,tours1        

,angers1 and ,nantes1 and are so        
considered in the pages that follow4    
,illustration3 ,,cathedral of ,ste      
,,croix ,,orleans  ,,ii  ,,st4 ,,croix  
,d',,orleans   ,the association of      
,orleans1 in ,english minds1 mostly     
rests upon the events connected with the
 siege4 ,its history in the past has    
been mainly that of bloody warfare and  
massacre4 ,as the ,genabum of ,gallia1  
it was burned by ,csar in #eb ,b4 ,c4 in
 revenge for a previous massacre of the 
,romans4 ,by ,aurelian it was rebuilt   
and named ,aurelianum1 the progenitor of
 its present nomenclature4 ,st4 ,aignan 
in #dea secured the safety of the city  
to the cause of ,christianity by warding
 off ,attila's attack4 ,clovis captured 
it in #dih1 but at his death it became  
the capital of an independent kingdom   
which was afterward1 in #fac1 united    
with that of ,paris4 ,activities no less
 extensive or vivid followed1 till the  
,english besieged the city in #adbi1    
only retiring before the conquering     

hosts led by the ,maid of ,orleans on   
the #gth of ,may2 the ,huguenots held it
 as a stronghold under ,coligny2 and    
latterly the ,germans occupied it1 were 
driven out1 and again reoccupied it as a
 base in #ahgj-ga4 ,such1 in brief1 is a
 partial record of its troubles and     
trials1 with scarce a reference to a    
,christian or religious motive1 if we   
except ,attila's unsuccessful attack and
 ,coligny's ,protestant fervour4  ,the  
almost legendary part played by ,jeanne 
d',arc should suffice to impress        
indelibly upon the mind the chief event 
in connection with any city with which  
her name and fame were associated4  ,in 
the third century seven bishops were    
sent out from ,rome1 to extend the      
influence of the ,church1 to ,tours1    
,orleans1 ,toulouse1 ,narbonne1 ,paris1 
,limoges1 and ,auvergne2 though1 in     
spite of the success with which they    
met1 and the zeal with which they       
worked1 their meetings were chiefly held
 in the houses of their more opulent    

converts1 and church building at the    
time appears not to have been so much   
desired as the dissemination of the     
,word itself4 ,since its occupation by  
the ,germans in '#ga1 great contrasting 
elements have sprung up4 ,nowhere1 not  
even in the up-to-date ,rhine cities of 
,germany1 is better exemplified the     
trend of the age in which we live4      
,there are notable indications of its   
modernity in the architecture of public 
and private buildings1 many streets and 
boulevards of the city being laid out   
anew and bisecting the older portions4  
,the ,cathedral of ,st4 ,croix1 of      
widely contrasting styles and eras1     
forms a pleasing enough key-note to it  
all1 in spite of its garish crudities4  
,at its best1 when viewed from the      
bridge which spans the well-nigh dry bed
 of the ,loire1 it composes well with   
what is at all times a pleasing         
prospect1 and is set off to great       
advantage by the fringe of green        
boulevard along the river bank1--a fine 

enough setting for an architectural     
monument of whatever rank1 be it new or 
old1 consistent or conglomerate4 ,as for
 the classification of the architectural
 style of the cathedral itself1 it is an
 unprincipled mixture of components1 but
 little related to each other4 ,the     
southern influence is apparent1 alike in
 the scanty remains of the ,romanesque1 
and the restored ,renaissance portions1 
while ,gothic peeps out here and there1 
in no mean proportions1 as though it    
were misplaced and out of its true      
environment4 ,the cathedral1 which was  
destroyed in #aefg by the ,huguenots1 in
 spite of the admonitions of the ,conds1
 is still visible in the fragments of   
the choir aisles1 the fourteenth-century
 chapels appearing to have been         
uninjured4 ,this much remains of the    
,gothic of ,henry ,,iv4's time4 ,the    
late seventeenth-century work is a      
manifest expression of the debasement of
 ,gothic1 and such other additions as   
were made in the reigns of the ,louis   

carry the vulgarities still further1 the
 acme being reached in the              
pseudo-classical north and south        
porches1 which are sepulchral-looking of
 themselves1 and not even of the most   
admired variety of the species4 ,the    
most that can be remarked1 considering  
all the distinctive features1 is the    
fact that this cathedral is the only    
,gothic church1 so ranking1 that is not 
of ,medival growth1 a fact which may    
well account for its unsatisfactory     
style4  ,the faade follows the usual    
enough arrangement of three portals1    
though very ugly ones1 flanked by rising
 towers on either side4 ,in this case   
these doorways are of the nondescript   
variety commonly accepted as base       
,gothic1 but hardly warranting even such
 a term of endearment4 ,they are in fact
 flamboyant as to their lines1 though of
 a remarkable poverty as to further     
embellishment1 if we bar a series of    
misplaced armorial blazonings4  ,topping
 the gables of the portals are a series 

of circular apertures1 with framing of a
 sort1 but without glass1--a poor       
imitation of what a rose window might be
 at its worst4 ,above is an arcaded     
gallery of nine graceful arches1 the    
first really attractive ornament of this
 debased faade4 ,the towers1 finished so
 late as #aghi by ,m4 ,paris1 the king's
 architect1 rise loftily some two       
hundred and eighty feet1 with ranges of 
slight columns and perpendicular lines1 
which give the grand and imposing effect
 of height of which the cathedral is    
undeniably possessed1 and which1 when   
viewed from down the ,rue ,jeanne       
d',arc1 is without doubt                
impressive1--far more so than greater   
intimacy will sustain4  ,the nave1 of a 
height of one hundred feet1 is flanked  
by double aisles1 and in appearance is  
every way superior to the exterior4  ,no
 remarkable art treasures are to be     
seen1 if we except a series of          
sculptured ,stations of the ,cross      
beneath the windows1 and the ,gothic    

altars of the transepts4                
,illustration3 ,,cathedral of ,s4       
,,louis ,,blois  ,,iii  ,,st4 ,,louis   
,,de ,,blois   ,regardless of the       
sentiment which attaches itself to      
,blois by reason of its magnificent     
chateau1 and in spite of its undeniably 
picturesque and interesting environment1
 it hardly takes sufficient rank as a   
cathedral city to warrant more than a   
passing consideration4 ,as it is1 one   
cannot get from under the shadow of its 
overpowering attraction1 and1 in spite  
of the poverty and depressing qualities 
of the ,cathedral of ,st4 ,louis1       
perhaps no place in the ,loire valley   
has more claim upon the attention of the
 enthusiastic tourist4 ,the wonderful   
chateau is all that has been said of it1
 and more4 ,the picturesqueness of the  
city's streets of stairs1 and its       
general up and down hill situation1     
offering charming vistas1 unique in a   
city of the north1 are1 except for its  
size1 really more suggestive of ,genoa  

or ,naples4 ,in the general ensemble of 
the city1 the ,loire is an attraction of
 itself1 when viewed from across that   
wonderful stone bridge1 the first public
 work endowed by ,louis ,,xv4 ,but even 
then1 the awkward and uninteresting     
cathedral does not enter into the view  
with that liveliness and impressiveness 
which we are wont to associate with such
 an environment4 ,in short1 it must be  
set down that in the lack of pleasing   
qualities in its cathedral1 is found    
,blois' greatest disappointment4  ,the  
tourist pur sang will care little about 
this4 ,he usually rushes in and out     
during the daylight1 and recalls but    
little except the fascinating staircase 
of the chateau attributed1 as to its    
spiral formation1 to ,da ,vinci2 the    
ornamental chimney-pieces2 and the fact 
that historical events of the past have 
intermingled inextricably the gruesome  
stories of the royal houses which bore  
respectively the arms of hedgehog and   
salamander4 ,this only1 with perhaps the

 memory that at one time or another a   
certain event took place involving the  
use of some forty odd daggers4          
,perhaps1 after all1 it would be an     
embarrassment of riches did the town    
possess a cathedral1 or even other      
monuments1 to vie with this spectacular 
attraction which1 from every view-point 
realizes the ideal of our imagination1  
as to just what a chateau and its       
history might be4  ,from near or far the
 cathedral shows no charm of outline4   
,its ridgepole is marred by three       
unusually obtrusive lightning           
conductors1 which could hardly have been
 more offensive had they been turned    
into those lath-like crosses which are  
seen elsewhere4 ,its tower is a         
monstrosity1 with an egg-shaped         
protuberance which is neither shapely   
nor impressive1 while the southern range
 of the nave and aisle1 when viewed     
laterally1 shows a bareness and poverty 
of design unusual and painful4 ,the     
ensemble1 from this point1 is one of a  

certain impressiveness4 ,it could hardly
 be otherwise1 with the situation which 
it commands1 even were it the grossest  
thing that ever took shape in           
architecture4 ,its irregularities and   
inconsistencies1 and the great variety  
of outline shown by the roof-tops of the
 town1 perhaps1 make up in a measure for
 the lack of individual beauties in the 
church itself4  ,there is this much to  
be said1 however1 for the functions     
which this church performs4 ,if all were
 as much made use of by the market-day  
peasants1 streaming in from the         
surrounding country1 who1 with their    
jugs1 market-baskets1 and what not1 in  
their hands1 enter the building1 say a  
short prayer or two1 and toddle out     
again1 there would doubtless be fewer   
churches with a poverty-stricken air and
 more of a better and more prosperous   
class4  ,the greater part of the        
cathedral which originally stood on this
 site was destroyed during the          
,revolution1 and that which was         

afterward reared here was merely a      
restoration by ,mansard1 who1 it is to  
be presumed1 made such use as was       
possible of what remained4  ,the        
interior1 most will agree1 is no more   
remarkable than the exterior adornments2
 in fact the same paucity of plan and of
 detail appears from one end to the     
other1 inside and out4 ,the aisles are  
astonishingly low2 the choir and nave1  
each unusually short4 ,there are no     
transepts1 and there is no triforium    
whatever1 no chapels of any remarkable  
beauty1 and little glass that is even   
passable4 ,on the walls of the nave1    
beneath the low clerestory windows1 are 
a series of four carven ,renaissance    
marble panels1 with other blanks        
suggesting the ultimate addition of     
similar sepulchral-looking ornaments4   
,such1 in brief1 is a rsum of the       
attractions1 or rather the lack of them1
 as it will strike the average person4  
,it is perhaps no small wonder that the 
traveller who desires to study          

architectural forms1 or to sketch them1 
should prefer the less holy precincts of
 the chateau1 where every facility is   
offered for the pursuance thereof1 to   
that more blessed ground1 covered by the
 cathedral1 which offers little enough  
in itself1 and that little under a      
surveillance which makes one regret that
 the feudal times are not still with    
us1--when we might vent our spleen and  
anger upon any who offend us4           
,illustration3 ,st4 ,gatien de ,tours   
,,iv  ,,st4 ,,gatien ,,de ,,tours   ,the
 soi-disant provincial metropolis of    
,mr4 ,james' appreciative favour1 the   
capital of old ,touraine1 is possessed  
of great and many charms for the seeker 
after new things4 ,he may be            
passionately fond of churches2 if so1   
the trinity here to be seen1 and the    
history of their founders and prelates1 
and the important part which they played
 in church affairs1 will edify him      
greatly4 ,if romance fills his or her   
mind1 there is no more convenient centre

 than ,tours from which to do the       
chteaux of the ,loire4 ,if it be ,french
 history1 or the study of modern        
economic or commercial conditions1 the  
past activities and present prosperity  
of the city will give much food for     
thought4 ,if to literature one's mind   
turns1 there is the association with    
,balzac's birth in the ,rue ,royale1 and
 his delightful picturings of the city's
 environment in the ,cur de ,tours1 ,le 
,lys dans la ,valle1 and ,la ,grenadire4
 ,says ,balzac of the habitant3 444,he  
is a listless and unobliging individual4
 ,but the sojourner for a day will      
probably not notice this1 and1 if he    
should1 must simply make allowance1 and 
think with ,henry ,james of the other   
memories of this land of ,rabelais1     
,descartes1 and ,balzac2 of good        
dinners1 good company1 and good houses4 
,to link the city still closer with     
letters1 the first printing-press in    
,touraine was set up here in #adif4     
,nicolas ,jensen1 famed as the foremost 

,venetian printer of his time1 was born 
in the neighbourhood and was at one time
 ,master of the ,mint at ,tours4        
,christopher ,plantin1 the head of the  
famous ,antwerp family of printers1     
likewise was born in the near-by suburb 
of ,st4 ,avertin prs ,tours4            
,climatically1 ,touraine appears to     
linger between the rigours of the north 
and the mildness of the southland2 at   
least we are conscious of another       
atmosphere1 made apparent by such       
evidences as palms and prunes growing in
 the open4  ,tours1 says her historian1 
has ever employed the pure ,french in   
her spoken and written word2 patois and 
provincialisms have no place here4  ,st4
 ,martin of ,tours erected a church     
here1 in honour of ,st4 ,peter and      
,paul1 as a sort of antidote to the many
 pagan temples which he had caused to be
 destroyed4 ,his successors built       
several others round about the city1 but
 they appear to have been all of small  
size until1 in the fifth century1       

,perpetus1 ,bishop of ,tours in the     
reign of ,childeric1 caused to be built 
a more splendid church to replace that  
which ,briceius had erected over the    
tomb of ,st4 ,martin4 ,this1 in turn1   
was rebuilt by the celebrated ,gregory  
of ,tours1 or so ordered by him2 until  
finally in the seventh century the abbey
 church of ,st4 ,martin of ,tours became
 a place of pilgrimage for all the      
,turones4 ,to-day1 nought remains of    
this great church but the two towers1   
which have been bisected by the running 
of a street throughout the old nave of  
the church2 and thus they stand as      
silent sentinels of the means through   
which ,tours arose to its ecclesiastical
 dignity4 ,the ,tour ,st4 ,martin or de 
l',horloge is of the twelfth century1   
and the other1 called the ,tour de      
,charlemagne1 being the burial-place of 
his wife ,luitgarde1 is1 in its lower   
portions1 of the eleventh century4  ,the
 ,cathedral of ,st4 ,gatien1 which      
should be greatly endeared to the       

,english people1 was commenced by ,henry
 ,,ii4 in #aagj1 the choir being the    
earliest portion4 ,the transepts        
followed in the next century1 and the   
faade as late as the fifteenth1 or the  
beginning of the sixteenth1 century4 ,of
 manifestly ,renaissance tendency1 this 
faade for sheer charm and               
picturesqueness must rank with the best1
 with the qualifying statement added    
that it offends against many consistent 
artistic and architectural principles4  
,it is certainly an effective type1     
although perhaps not warranting the     
statement of a certain monarch1 whose   
art training may to some degree have    
been wanting1 that it was a jewel in a  
gemmed setting4 ,an exceedingly         
picturesque and attractive pair of      
towers rise1 through no less than three 
different styles1 to the inverted       
egg-cups1 which in a purer example might
 perhaps prove less pleasing1 but which 
in the present case seem at least to be 
imbued with something of the ,oriental  

or ,mediterranean influence1 not yet    
fallen before the actual decadence4     
,another peculiarity of this charmingly 
toned west front is that the rose window
 is of a peculiar lozenge shape1 neither
 square nor round1 as one authority puts
 it4 ,this1 of itself1 is decidedly not 
a graceful arrangement2 but the         
proportions are ample and the glass is  
good1 so its deficiencies may in a      
measure be said to be overbalanced by   
its merits2 and1 for that matter1 as it 
is only seen in its minutia of detail   
from the inside1 where the excellent    
coloured glass is seen at its best1 it  
hardly detracts from the general fine   
effect of the exterior faade4 ,the      
western doorways are thoroughly         
,renaissance1 both inside and out1 while
 the portals themselves offer a livid   
suggestion as to what they might have   
been1 were all the bare niches and      
blocks filled and mounted with worthy   
statues4 ,the effect would have been an 
undeniable approach to the best matured 

,gothic1 and would have enhanced greatly
 this already highly interesting faade4 
,the buttresses of the choir follow the 
accepted forms of grace and             
effectiveness1 and1 while not numerous  
or remarkable as to size1 each springs  
to a supporting pier gracefully         
pinnacled and gargoyled4 ,one instance  
of the functions of this valuable       
adjunct to the towering forms taken by  
most ,gothic structures1 is a buttress  
which springs1 unsymmetrically enough1  
from the north transept4 ,this rather   
ungainly limb flies out like the        
tentacles of an octopus1 grasps a small 
building on the opposite side of a      
narrow roadway1 and forms a support to  
the irregular construction of the north 
transept4 ,this was perhaps necessary as
 a means of bracing the transept wall1  
which it might not have been possible to
 accomplish otherwise4  ,the interior   
presents the unusual feature of the     
omission of the organ case from over the
 western doorway1 the organ being in    

this instance in the south transept1 as 
at ,le ,mans4 ,the wall space centered  
upon the nave proper is entirely given  
over to the lozenge-shaped rose1 which1 
in spite of its rather heavy framing and
 kaleidoscopic and patchworky glass1 is 
withal effective beyond many more       
gracefully formed openings1 where the   
glass is either too severely plain1 or  
worked into a supposed design1 which1 by
 reason of its minute particles1 is     
undecipherable4 ,the design and         
arrangement of a series of lancets      
supporting the lozenge would be         
remarkable1 were it in company with the 
best glass of the middle ages4 ,it      
depicts an ,adoration in which kings1   
saints1 and bishops are modelled        
brilliantly1 and with evidence of much  
good drawing1 a detail often wanting in 
old1 or1 for that matter1 modern glass4 
,the glass of the choir1 on the other   
hand1 is far better in arrangement1 and 
shows deep1 rich particles which are    
only at their best in the work of the   

early period here shown4 ,in this glass 
are depicted the arms of ,st4 ,louis1   
,blanche of ,castile1 and of the ,city  
of ,tours4 ,the choir itself widens out 
from the crossing of the transept1      
causing that deviation between the piers
 of nave and choir which made necessary 
the ungainly flying buttress of the     
north wall4  ,the aisles of the nave are
 of no great width and are fringed with 
a series of chapels of which only one1  
that of the ,sacred ,heart1 is in any   
way remarkable4 ,the radiating chapels  
of the choir are more interesting1      
notably the lady-chapel1 which contains 
old glass removed thither from the      
church of ,st4 ,julien1 the subject of  
one of ,turner's rhapsodies in his      
,seine and ,loire4  ,the clerestory of  
the nave consists of plain glass only2  
and on the triforium alone1 of          
exceedingly graceful arcaded columns1   
depends the beauty of the upper ranges4 
,the chief treasure of artistic value   
and moment is unquestionably the tomb of

 the children of ,charles ,,viii4 and   
,anne of ,brittany1 by whose early      
deaths the throne passed to the ,valois 
branch of the ,orleans family4 ,this    
remarkable monument is of the early     
sixteenth century and1 according to the 
report of the ,commission des ,monuments
 ,historiques1 is the work of ,guillaume
 ,regnault1 a statement which is much   
more likely to be correct than the usual
 guide-book information1 which in some  
instances credits it to ,goujon1 and in 
others to a local apprentice of his1    
named ,juste4 ,on a ,renaissance        
sarcophagus lie the two tiny effigies1  
in white marble1 surrounded by guardian 
angels and other symbolical figures4    
,the base bears escutcheons of the      
,dauphins of ,france1 the arms and two  
inscriptions referring to the princes   
and their birth4  ,illustration3 ,flying
 ,buttress1 ,st4 ,gatien de ,tours      
,illustration3 ,st4 ,maurice d',angers  
,v  ,,st4 ,,maurice ,d',,angers         
,historically and romantically1 ,angers1

 the former capital of ,anjou1 is       
possessed of a past 7which may be said  
to have actively commenced in #ihi7 that
 cannot fail to arrest and hold one's   
attention4 ,capital of the ,dukes of    
,anjou1 and the home of ,margaret of    
,anjou1 daughter of ,ren1 who married   
,henry ,,vi4 of ,england2 likewise the  
cradle of the first ,plantagenets2 and  
immortalized by ,shakespeare's ,king    
,john1 who soliloquizes anent ,the      
flinty ribs of this contemptuous town4  
,with all this1 ,angers has perhaps a   
supreme claim for ,english              
consideration4 ,in spite of all this1   
and the added attraction of a real      
castle1 such as is seldom found outside 
the children's fairy-tale books1 not to 
mention the ,cathedral of ,st4          
,maurice1--of which more anon1--,angers 
leaves one with the impression that very
 much is wanting in order to merit      
preminence in the classification of     
those memories which a traveller is wont
 to store up as a result of his travels 

and observations4 ,perhaps it is the    
city's pitiful attempt to be gay1 to be 
modern1 to undertake pretentious        
improvements1--all of which appear to   
fail utterly in their purpose4 ,these   
things cannot be unless they are of a   
spontaneous growth1 which here they     
apparently are not4 ,not that the city  
still merits the opprobrious 7sic7 term 
of ,black ,angers with which most       
writers and all makers of guide-books   
are pleased to refer to it1--it hardly  
does4 ,in fact it is doubtful as to just
 what the term originally meant4        
,perhaps it was merely a reference to   
the gloom caused by the extensive use in
 the construction of its buildings of   
the black slate in which the            
neighbourhood abounds2--at any rate the 
expression is one of undoubted          
antiquity4  ,the two chief attractions  
are the cathedral and the castle1 both  
historical monuments4 ,the latter1 as   
before noted1 is the ideal military     
stronghold of our early imagination2 and

 if age1 magnitude1 and the general air 
of good preservation1 count for         
anything1 it must be one of the most    
impressive monuments of its class still 
to be seen4 ,originally its wall1 now   
minus battlements1 fronted close upon   
the river4 ,it is surrounded by a dry   
yawning fosse1 formerly a moat1 and     
possesses no less than seventeen        
enormous and perfectly formed towers1   
each perhaps eighty feet in height1     
banded near the top in white and black  
stripes4 ,hardly more than a circling   
wall to-day1 it has stood well the test 
of time since it was erected by ,philip 
,augustus and completed under ,st4      
,louis in #aahj4 ,little remains of the 
,renaissance portion originally occupied
 by the ,counts of ,anjou4 ,its charm   
lies rather in its exterior1 the        
interior confines resembling more a     
lumber-yard than anything else1--not    
worth spending one's time upon1 under   
the present facilities which are offered
 for its inspection4 ,one small         

structure within the walls is notable as
 being that in which ,king ,ren was     
born4 ,it is recorded that ,wellington  
received a part of his military         
education in ,angers4 ,if so1 it is     
probable that he studied this military  
defence with some care and minuteness4  
,to us1 at least1 who have not been     
educated with respect to military       
fortification1 it seems to fill all     
demands that are likely to be made upon 
a building of its class4 ,doubtless it  
could have been besieged successfully1  
and even battered through to the extent 
of allowing the outside foe to enter1   
but it would probably have been at a    
fearful cost1 and it is possible that   
the attempt would be given up before any
 surrender took place4 ,such would      
appear to an outsider to be the lines on
 which these magnificent works of feudal
 times were built4  ,one should not     
speak slightingly of the ,cathedral of  
,st4 ,maurice1 though it comes upon one 
who journeys from the north1 as a thing 

apart from anything he has met before2  
so much so that he is hardly likely to  
be able to judge it dispassionately     
until he has turned his impressions of  
it many times over in his mind4  ,the   
,angevine style1 seen here1 is          
representative of but a very restricted 
area4 ,the ,socit des ,monuments        
,historiques defined it as a small      
district on both sides of the ,loire    
between ,normandy and ,acquitaine4 ,it  
is suggestive of the ,roman manner1 far 
more than the ,gothic2 though the       
primitiveness shown in the long1 upright
 lines of the west front of this        
cathedral marks it at once as something 
different from either ,romanesque or    
,transition1--though ,transition it must
 be1 unless we delimit the confines of  
that useful term4 ,in any case1 it      
points unto heaven in a truly devout    
manner1 is not debased in any           
particular1 and1 if not a consistent    
style1 has many of the good qualities of
 both4 ,the ,cathedral of ,st4 ,maurice 

is best seen from a point of view which 
will exaggerate its height1 its         
slimness1 and its straight and upright  
lines2 but even this does not appear to 
work out to its disadvantage1 in spite  
of the new note it strikes4 ,it is an   
interesting work when viewed from any   
distance sufficient to throw its outline
 well into the air4 ,from across the    
,maine1 it is charming2 from the foot of
 the stairwayed street which runs       
downwards from its western portal1 it is
 picturesque and irresistible1 while    
from any other view-point in the town1  
it is grand4  ,the easterly end is      
dwarfed by close-lying houses1          
picturesque enough in themselves2 but   
the gracefulness of the buttress is     
wanting4 ,the south side is1 here and   
there1 broken into by additions and     
interpolations1 none apparently of a    
contemporary era4 ,it offers a grand    
effect for an artist who would study    
gray walls and crumbling roofs1 but the 
lack of uniformity will offend most     

people4  ,the faade of the west is the  
most effective feature1 so far as       
genuineness is concerned4 ,it towers to 
the sky1 its needle-pointed spires      
overtopping a crooked street which rises
 sharply from the river4 ,there is but  
one portal1 and that is centred with a  
curious ,romanesque arch half-way across
 its height1 above which is a bas-relief
 of great size4 ,the sculpture of this  
portal1 while not as excellent as that  
seen in the ,isle of ,france1 is of an  
unusual richness and execution4 ,the    
next range is unique among west fronts1 
being a large central window1 but       
slightly pointed and little removed from
 the ,romanesque4 ,it is bare of        
coloured glass1 and is decidedly not an 
attractive feature4 ,on each side of    
this great window are a series of blunt 
pointed lancets1 which form a sort of   
arcade which otherwise relieves the     
bareness which would exist4 ,immediately
 above is a row of niches which hold    
eight armour-clad knights of the        

fifteenth century1 inferior perhaps1 in 
execution1 to the sculpture of the      
portal1 but producing an effect1 when   
viewed from the ground1 undeniably fine4
 ,it is a detail as interesting1 in its 
way1 as the long ,gallery of the ,kings 
at ,reims4 ,above rise the slim spires1 
with an octagonal cupola superimposed   
over a central structure1 which looks to
 this day as though it were originally  
intended as one of a battery of three   
uniform spires4 ,the general plan of    
this faade is the masterpiece of design 
of the building1 and1 except for the    
ludicrously diminutive clock-face1 could
 withstand nobly the cavil of the most  
exacting pedant who ever read or studied
 architectural forms1 solely out of     
books4 ,in the immediate foreground     
falls the before mentioned street of    
steps4 ,many old tumble-down houses have
 recently been cleared away1 and1 at the
 present writing1 the view from this    
point is one which has apparently not   
previously existed1 and one which it is 

to be hoped will not be marred by the   
erection of any so-called modern        
improvements4  ,the interior fills no   
accepted formula of architectural       
expression1 save that it is of the      
manner common to ,anjou1 the borderland 
between the ,gothic aisled and the great
 and aisle-less southern naves1 but it  
holds one's interest none the less4     
,perhaps1 after all1 it is the quality  
to interest1 quite as much as that to   
please1 which is the standard by which  
one makes estimates and forms opinions4 
,there is a not very long nor very wide 
nave and choir1 neither with aisles1 and
 both with a vaulting which gives the   
appearance of being much lower than it  
really is1 quite the contrary impression
 to that received from contemplation of 
the exterior4 ,the bishop's throne sets 
midway on the right of the nave4 ,each  
bay of the side walls of the nave is    
composed of a wide pointed arch resting 
immediately upon the ground and filled  
with stone instead of glass2 reminiscent

 of a similar effect in the ,church of  
,notre ,dame de la ,cloture at ,le      
,mans4 ,the true windows of the nave    
rise in pairs above this arch1 and      
contain rich1 though somewhat           
fragmentary1 glass of the thirteenth    
century4 ,as characteristic of the      
,angevine style1 there is no triforium  
or clerestory1 and hence1 it is claimed1
 no necessity for flying buttresses1 the
 support being accomplished by less     
graceful1 if as effective1 heavy square 
piers built into the outer wall4  ,the  
transepts are not pronounced as to      
length or breadth1 their chief beauty   
being their rose windows4  ,the choir1  
of the twelfth century1 shows an        
interpolated and elaborately flamboyant 
doorway of a much later period4  ,an    
ornate oaken pulpit of none too good    
,renaissance carving is in the nave1 and
 the organ case over the western doorway
 is supported on the shoulders of a     
series of huge1 grotesque1 but          
monstrously human1 wooden caryatides4   

,this1 with the gigantic1 high canopied 
carven wood pulpit1 one of the most     
extraordinary in the country1 forms a   
relief to coldly chiselled stone1       
certainly2--but few will consider their 
charms such as would warrant counting   
them amongst ecclesiastical treasures4  
,the fourteenth-century tapestries from 
,arras 7or ,paris7 were made for ,king  
,ren and by him given to the cathedral4 
,they represent scenes from the         
,apocalypse1 and1 though having suffered
 somewhat from the depredations of the  
,revolution1 still exhibit evidences of 
rare qualities of workmanship in their  
design and colouring4  ,the bnitier of  
verd-antico marble supported by figures 
of lions is a ,byzantine work of the    
eastern empire1 given to the cathedral  
by ,king ,ren4  ,the ,dukes of ,anjou   
and ,margaret of ,anjou were buried     
here1 but the tomb of the latter was    
desecrated and destroyed during the     
,revolution4 ,aside from these1 no other
 monuments of note are to be seen4  ,the

 ,bishop's ,palace1 of the twelfth      
century1 standing high beside the       
cathedral1 was restored by              
,viollet-le-,duc and reflects a medival 
splendour unseen elsewhere in the city1 
with respect to any great or small      
domestic establishment4  ,the ,maison   
,barrault in the ,logis ,barrault1 built
 by a former mayor of the city1 one time
 ,chancellor of ,brittany1 was the scene
 of the magnificent entertainment       
offered ,csar ,borgia in #adig4         
,afterwards it became the residence of  
,marie de ,medicis2 later1 a monastic   
establishment1 then a seminary1 and     
lately simply an ordinary private       
school4 ,says one writer1 ,no wonder its
 remains should be so scanty and ill    
preserved4     ,illustration3           
,,cathedral of ,st4 ,,pierre ,,nantes   
,,vi  ,,st4 ,,pierre ,,de ,,nantes   ,as
 a city of commercial and strategic     
importance1 no one will deny that       
,nantes is supreme in the ,loire valley2
 that its relations with the affairs of 

,church and ,state are equally          
important1 is a debatable point4 ,true1 
the edict in favour of ,protestant      
worship1 fathered by ,henry ,,iv41 was a
 momentous and significant event2 but   
the revocation1 and the subsequent      
massacres of the rascally ,carrier1     
well-nigh wiped that out4 ,the history  
of the city is one long record of       
warfare and bloodshed4 ,though holding  
the command of the ,loire1 the city has 
ever been more closely identified with  
,brittany4 ,here1 in its frowning       
tenth-century castle1 which fronts upon 
the river immediately in the foreground 
of the ,cathedral of ,st4 ,pierre1 with 
which it forms an unusual grouping of   
ecclesiastical and military architecture
 7,m4 ,h471 lived at one time or        
another1 most of the ,kings of ,france1 
from ,charles ,,viii4 downward4 ,here1  
too1 ,anne of ,brittany was born1 and   
here she married ,charles ,,viii41 thus 
uniting the ,duchy of ,brittany with the
 crown of ,france4 ,her subsequent      

marriage1 in the chapel of the castle1  
with ,louis ,,xii41 made for ever       
impossible the future independence of   
the city4  ,following the edict came the
 ,revolution2 and1 as if the preliminary
 horrors of massacres and atrocities1   
which spread to ,orange in ,vaucluse and
 to ,arras in ,picardy1 were not of     
sufficient stringency1 the ,noyades1 or 
drownings1 carried off the poor         
unfortunates1 a boatload at a time1     
until it is estimated that perhaps nine 
thousand were thus cruelly              
murdered1--women1 children1 royalty1 and
 the clergy alike4 ,the wrath which     
spent itself seemed to know no rank4    
,the guillotine1 disease1 and famine    
finished the work1 so that the          
population of the city was1 at the      
beginning of the nineteenth century1    
immeasurably inferior in numbers to what
 it had been a decade before4 ,the      
details of these significant events are 
recounted quite fully enough by         
historians generally2 but1 in reality1  

it has little to do with the aspect of  
the city as it exists to-day1 which1 if 
not one of great splendour1 partakes in 
no small measure of the attributes of a 
large metropolis1 amply planned1        
beautifully laid out1 and possessing1 in
 addition to the characteristics of     
,brittany with which it has been so long
 identified1 not a little of the        
influences and attributes of the south4 
,immediately to the rear of the chateau 
is the ,cathedral of ,st4 ,pierre1      
ancient as to its foundation1 and grand 
as to its general effect1 both inside   
and out1 though its exterior is marred  
by its uncompleted towers4 ,lofty1 but  
of heavy proportions1 ,st4 ,pierre de   
,nantes would1 at first sight1 appear to
 offer much that goes to make a         
satisfying ecclesiastical building4 ,as 
a matter of fact1 it fails in many      
particulars to realize any ideal which  
we have come to admire4 ,the western    
faade is more indebted to the rich and  
reasonably ornate portals for its       

undeniable impressiveness1 than to the  
gable of towers1 which have crumbled    
exceedingly from the effects of wind and
 weather1 rather than of great age1     
since they date only from the fifteenth 
century4  ,the choir rests on the       
remains of an older church1 hardly to be
 seen to-day in any appreciable         
evidence1 in that restoration and       
rebuilding have been so extensively     
carried on4  ,the windows throughout are
 but weak decorative elements1 and lack 
tracery and glass of a decorative       
quality1 an obvious detraction in any   
great architectural work4 ,the south    
transept shows indications of four      
successive periods of construction1 and 
contains the best glass in the church2  
otherwise it is severely plain4  ,the   
interior is by no means as incoherent as
 the exterior1 the height of the nave1  
one hundred and thirty feet1 giving an  
otherwise unapproachable grandeur2      
though this admirable dimension is      
qualified to no small degree by a       

triforium of a luxurious florid growth1 
little in keeping with the other        
attributes of firmness and strength4    
,the chapels throughout are bare and    
uninteresting so far as their altars or 
decorative embellishments are           
concerned1--what they may be at some    
future time1 if the ,art ,nouveau gets a
 foothold in church decoration1 is      
fearful to contemplate4 ,paintings1 none
 too common in ,french churches1 are    
here somewhat in excess of customary    
numbers1 though1 as to quality or       
interest1 in no church in ,france can   
they vie with those of the great        
churches of ,italy or ,flanders4  ,like 
the neighbouring city of ,tours1 ,nantes
 has in its cathedral1 for its pice de  
rsistance1 a magnificent sepulchral     
monument1 the tomb of ,franois ,,ii41   
the last ,duc de ,bretagne1 and         
,marguerite de ,foix1 his second wife1  
erected to their memory by their        
daughter ,anne4 ,this remarkable        
mausoleum was executed in #aejb-jg1     

after designs of ,jehan ,perral1 by     
,michel ,colomb and his pupils1         
,regnault and ,jean de ,chartres1 with  
the assistance of ,jrme de ,fiesole1 who
 contributed the ornamental portion4 ,it
 fortunately escaped demolition at the  
,revolution1 and was brought hither and 
placed in the south transept from the   
,eglise des ,carmes in #ahag4 ,it is a  
wonderful exemplification of the very   
best quality of ,renaissance4 ,the main 
portion of the tomb is of marble1 with  
black mouldings somewhat shattered in   
places1 but not so much so as to affect 
the contour or design4 ,the effigies lie
 recumbent upon a slab1 their feet      
resting on a lion and a greyhound1      
upheld by a series of miniature figures 
of the twelve apostles in niches of red 
marble4 ,at the corners are four nearly 
life-size figures1 depicting ,justice1  
with sword and scales1 said to be a     
portrait of the ,duchess ,anne2 ,power1 
strangling the dragon of ,heresy2       
,prudence1 a double face1 showing also  

,wisdom1 with mirror and compass2 and   
,temperance1 bearing a curb-bit and a   
lantern4 ,a tablet at the head bears the
 figures of ,st4 ,louis and             
,charlemagne1 and one at the foot1 those
 of ,st4 ,francis of ,assisi and ,ste4  
,marguerite1 the patrons of the duke and
 duchess4     ,,part ,,iv  ,central     
,france     ,illustration3 ,,st4        
,,etienne d',,auxerre  ,i  ,,st4        
,,etienne ,d',,auxerre   ,the entrance  
to the ,burgundian city of ,auxerre is  
more or less confused if one would1 at  
the first glance1 attempt to recognize  
its cathedral from among the three fine 
churches which in true medival fashion  
loom up over the river ,yonne2 not that 
the entrance is not pleasing3 the       
reverse is actually the case1 though    
one's way into the town lies through    
newly made roads4 ,however1 upon        
contemplation of the pleasant prospect  
of town and river1 he would be an       
uninspired person indeed who would not  
be able to pick out the ,cathedral of   

,st4 ,etienne1 with its singular reddish
 brown roof1 from among its less        
imposing neighbours4 ,it is the central 
building of the three1 and it rises     
majestically above all1 enhanced by the 
fine grouping of its one lone tower4    
,as a type to admire1 the cathedral1 be 
it said1 is not of a superlative        
quality2 but as a thing of beauty in    
many of its details and because of its  
aforesaid commanding situation1 it is   
one not to be ignored when the really   
fine gems of medival treasures are      
catalogued4 ,it is another of those     
types1 so far as its choir is concerned1
 which rise to a loftiness of soaring   
height1 which1 in later days1           
degenerated1 or were lost altogether in 
the fabric of the transepts and nave4   
,the height of the choir is perhaps not 
so great as it really appears1 when     
gauged by its sheer rise from the river 
level2 but such is the suggestion1 at   
least1 which1 after all1 is what the eye
 and certain other of our senses admire1

 quite as much as a professed expert    
classification4  ,the western front is  
of unusual appearance in that the       
southern tower glances off into the     
angle of the gable in most curious      
fashion2 not beautiful1 nor as          
originally intended to remain1 but so it
 is1 and offers at least a comparison of
 how a lofty gable looks when it lacks  
towers of an appropriate height4 ,at the
 right of this low tower of the faade1  
hidden behind a wall1 is a thoroughly   
,pagan doorway1 which might well pass   
unobserved1 did one not actually stumble
 upon it unawares4 ,it is a curious     
reminder of other days and other ways1  
and how it became an adjunct of this    
medival church the local records fail to
 state4 ,the three main portals of the  
faade1 as that of the transept1 are     
somewhat bare of ornament1 though the   
main tympanum and the spring of the arch
 are fairly filled4 ,these portals are  
of the late thirteenth century1 and     
exhibit no traces of the debasement     

which subsequently entered into the     
upper ranges of the tower and lateral   
portals4  ,both the transepts and the   
west front contain rose windows of good1
 though not remarkable design1 and each 
is exceedingly generous in size4 ,the   
interior1 generally1 does not give the  
effect of the great height suggested    
from the rear view of the choir         
overhanging the river front2 but both   
nave and choir are of unusual width1 and
 so also is the clerestory1 which is    
lofty1 and set with rare old glass of   
the most splendid and valuable quality1 
in the main the gift of ,bishop de      
,villeneuve in #abbj4  ,the choir       
terminates with the usual apse1 which is
 further elongated by the far-reaching  
lady-chapel1 which adjoins the main     
fabric in a graceful and unusual manner4
 ,the north tower was completed as late 
as the sixteenth century1 and that of   
the south was left unfinished1--as it is
 to-day4 ,the gable and its portals are 
highly decorated with statues1 niches1  

and crockets4  ,around the aisles of    
nave and choir is a curiously suggested 
arcade with an overhanging balustrade   
ornamented with a series of             
indifferently sculptured heads4 ,the    
bosses of many of the intersecting      
groins of the vaults are coloured with  
questionable effect4 ,there are also    
many visible evidences of coloured wall 
decorations1 which might perhaps as well
 have been left covered1 inasmuch as    
they have suffered exceedingly in the   
attempted restoration2 so much so1 that 
it is impossible to say whether they    
ever approached acceptable perfection2  
possibly not1 as they are supposed to   
date only from the period when much of  
this class of work was of none too good 
a quality4  ,the triforium of the nave  
is gracefully balustraded1 and the choir
 stands apart from the nave1 separated  
by an elaborate eighteenth century iron 
grille4 ,the ambulatory of the choir    
sets three steps lower than the nave1   
though the platform is on the same      

level4 ,the crypt beneath the choir1 so 
often the only existing remains of an   
earlier church1 is here grandly in      
evidence1 and dates from the eleventh   
century at least4  ,there are a few     
interesting tombs of former ,bishops of 
,auxerre and others of local celebrity4 
,on the whole the charm of ,auxerre and 
its cathedral must be admitted to lie in
 its general surroundings and immediate 
environment1 quite as much as because of
 any remarkably distinctive features of 
a superlative quality in the cathedral  
itself1 though an undeniable wealth of  
picturesque detail exists4  ,the        
conventional guides speak of it as      
highly interesting1 and so it is1 with  
its ,romanesque remains1 its ungainly   
faade1 its three fine but weather-worn  
doorways1 and its charming river view4  
,beside the cathedral stands the        
old-time ,episcopal ,palace with its    
fine arcaded ,romanesque gallery        
overlooking the river1 where the        
prelates took their constitutionals1    

safely guarded from wind and weather4   
,to-day this grand building represents  
the officialdom of the local ,prfecture4
  ,two other noble ecclesiastical       
monuments are to be seen here1 the      
,church of ,st4 ,germain1 or rather1 the
 fragment which was spared by the       
,huguenots1 now being used as an adjunct
 to a hospital2 and the ,church of ,st4 
,pierre4 ,the latter is the most        
appalling example of a ,renaissance     
building which one is likely to meet    
with1 and shows in its remarkable faade1
 in sheer perversion of misdirected     
labour1 the grossness of                
pseudo-classicism1 which quite entitles 
it to rank with that other equally      
abominable example in ,paris1 ,st4      
,eustache4  ,the portail of this        
remarkable church1 locally so called1   
though in reality it is only a detached 
gateway1 far from the church building   
itself1 is a wonderful ,italian         
suggestion1 now mellowed and weathered  
and undeniably charming in colour in    

spite of its being so manifestly out of 
its environment4     ,illustration3 ,st4
 ,etienne de ,bourges  ,,ii  ,,st4      
,,etienne ,,de ,,bourges   ,the         
,cathedral of ,st4 ,etienne de ,bourges 
partakes of the same honours which are  
accorded to the premier quartette of the
 ,isle of ,france4 ,nearly contemporary 
with ,paris and ,laon1 this cathedral   
steps into its rank with a grandeur and 
firmness that in a less stolid or more  
ornate edifice is often wanting4 ,it    
retains certain of its ,romanesque      
features1 perhaps unduly pronounced2    
likewise it has certain attributes of   
,burgundian luxuriance2 but withal it   
presents the highly developed ,gothic   
tendency to a far greater degree than   
either4 ,although not far to the south  
of ,paris1 ,bourges is thoroughly of    
another climatic environment1 which not 
only shows itself in the changed        
conditions of life1 but in the manner of
 building as well4  ,the great          
transeptless church of ,st4 ,etienne is 

another of those soaring monuments which
 rise skyward and hold the eye whenever 
one is in its vicinity4 ,standing on an 
eminence of not very great height1 it   
dominates1 from every point of view1 the
 plain which surrounds the city and     
reminds one of ,noyon or ,laon in its   
comparative isolation4 ,not because its 
domicile is not a place of some         
magnitude1 but rather because the       
neighbouring houses lie so huddled in a 
valley or plain1 does the city give the 
impression of being of less size than it
 really is4  ,the view from the railway 
on entering the town is1 as it has been 
called by some imaginative ,frenchman1  
but the hors d'oeuvre of the            
architectural feast to follow1 and on   
drawing still closer1 it composes       
grandly with the swift-flowing little   
river lined with the tall slim trees    
which are so distinguished a feature of 
a ,french landscape4  ,like ,beauvais1  
,amiens1 and1 in only a slightly lesser 
degree1 ,le ,mans1 the sheer fall of the

 nave and choir from ridge to ground    
startles one by its exaggeration of     
perpendicular lines4 ,though by no means
 of the great height of these other     
examples1 its great size first impresses
 one as its distinguishing feature4 ,it 
sits1 too1 on the edge of a beautiful   
wooded park which1 in conjunction with  
the modern ,episcopal ,palace1 forms an 
ensemble of stone and verdure not often 
to be seen as the environment of a      
,french cathedral4 ,the gardens are     
quite open to the public and are set    
forth with clipped hedges1 trees1 and   
monumental stone work of no mean order4 
,bourges is another of those ancient    
foundations of mid-,france where ,romish
 influences died hard1 and ,gothic1 as a
 perfected type1 never1 as it were1     
attained its majority4 ,here1 the       
mixture of style is notable2 pointed and
 rounded arches intermingled1 apparently
 indiscriminately1 with thoroughly      
,gothic supports1 mullions1 and piers4  
,these1 with the characteristically     

,renaissance north and south porches1   
with their carven doorways1 all go to   
complete a series of typically fashioned
 details1 each true to its own age4     
,such a combination of varying virtues  
should give the student1 or the seeker  
after new sensations1 something more to 
think about than a mere catalogue of    
consistent charms2 for it cannot be     
denied that this church1 standing aloof 
from any other single type1 is a marvel 
of grandeur and impressiveness1 whatever
 may be its failings when dessicated by 
the theorist or the archologist4  ,it is
 unlikely that ,saracen or even ,moorish
 influences were ever at work so far    
north as this2 but there is an          
unquestionable tendency in much of the  
debased decoration of this church to    
more than suggest a similarity to both4 
,it is1 of course1 not ,gothic1 as we   
know it1 nor ,byzantine1 pur sang1 and  
it is certainly not ,italian1 but       
something quite different4 ,it is1      
perhaps1 worthy of record that the      

inverted horseshoe arch more nearly     
approximates what is commonly considered
 the ,moorish form2 or1 to give it a    
wider locale1 ,mediterranean1 at least4 
,the polygonal turrets which flank the  
towers and the chapels of the abside    
look1 too1 not unlike a sub-tropical    
feature1 possibly ,saracen4 ,such       
details are markedly noticeable here1   
and it is because of features such as   
these that one is minded to consider the
 church as something quite different    
from anything seen elsewhere4  ,to carry
 the argument still farther1 if these   
details are to be considered in any     
sense ,gothic1 or any outgrowth thereof1
 it certainly augurs much for the       
possibility of this style having come   
originally from the ,east1 or at least  
the ,mediterranean countries4 ,it has   
been claimed before now by ,english and 
,french writers alike1 that it may have 
developed from the arts of the ,moors of
 ,spain1 or that it may have grown up   
from a primitive style in vogue in the  

,far ,east4 ,the comment is given       
without further elaboration2 but here1  
at least1 we see some basis for the     
claim that ,gothic is but a transplanted
 flower after all1 and that it developed
 so boldly only from the seed's having  
been blown hither from some other land1 
and finding a favourable soil in which  
to take root and flourish4  ,without    
transepts1 the long flank of the nave   
and choir is singularly beautiful1      
broken into at regular intervals by     
buttresses which1 if not remarkable     
examples1 are at least graceful1 though 
so light that they have been visibly    
stayed by iron rods1 as is frequently   
the case elsewhere1 at ,beauvais        
particularly1 where the whole fabric    
appears to be hung together by wires4   
,the actual inception of the cathedral  
is attributed to ,rudolphe de ,turenne1 
forty-sixth ,archbishop of ,bourges4 ,of
 his known work only the round-arched   
crypt remains1 upon which foundation the
 present grand pile was reared4  ,the   

west front possesses a quintette of     
portals1 deeply recessed1 but of a      
decidedly mixed ,gothic and ,renaissance
 treatment as to decoration4 ,such a    
range of elaborated doorways is hardly  
to be found in such luxuriance          
elsewhere1 though the fact that there   
are five in all1 standing grandly in a  
row1 is perhaps not unique of itself4   
,they are profusely decorated with      
sculptured forms of angels1 saints1 and 
kings4 ,the tympanum of the central     
portal contains a ,last ,judgment1      
remarkable alike for its magnitude and  
workmanship4 ,throughout1 these portals 
vary in date of their construction1     
their treatment1 and their excellencies1
 but in general they are homogeneous and
 convincing4 ,in the gables of three are
 circular piercings which open into a   
sort of vestibule or porch2 but these   
are entirely without glass4 ,another    
unique feature of this western front is 
a curious lofty double-storied          
structure1 a chapel-like building1 of   

whose functions most will remain in     
ignorance4 ,it is connected with the    
main body of the church by a long       
tentacle-like ligature through which1   
says ,henry ,james1 the groaning of the 
organ or the pealing of bells must be   
transmitted with distressing clearness4 
,the hybrid tower on the extreme left1  
with many round-arched windows and much 
florid ornament1 is familiarly called   
the ,tour de ,beurre1 and1 as its       
compeer at ,rouen1 was built from the   
contributions of those who were willing 
to forego themselves the luxury of      
butter4 ,to the right is a much less    
imposing tower1 but one that is much    
more true as to its style4 ,it rises    
scarcely above the central gable1 and   
helps to exaggerate the lack of         
uniformity of the faade1 a condition    
much deplored by the true ,gothic       
builder1 though whether such varying    
detail does not after all make a more   
interesting1 and perhaps as edifying a  
work for pleasurable contemplation1 is  

an open question4 ,there is1 in any     
event1 a marvellous power in this       
massive west front to confirm one's     
opinion that it is a comprehensive and  
yet varied thing4 ,another curious      
feature of this front is a pair of      
overlying buttresses of no apparent     
purpose as to staying power1 since the  
wall space which they flank is of no    
inordinate height4 ,the window space1   
though1 is ample2 and1 though mostly in 
blank to-day1 at a future time those    
blanks might be broken out2 hence the   
necessity for these extra props4  ,the  
interior gives1 likewise1 a grand       
impression1 one of vaster magnitude than
 in reality exists4 ,the length is      
probably exaggerated by reason of the   
lack of transepts2 but its breadth1     
including nave and aisle1 is unusually  
great1 and the height is further        
magnified by the fact that the aisles   
themselves have three ranges of         
openings1 above which1 in the nave1 rise
 the triforium and clerestory1--surely  

alone a sufficiently unusual arrangement
 to account the church as of remarkable 
planning4 ,its great beauty may be said 
to be the magnificent proportions       
throughout1 rather than the preminent   
intrinsic value of any specific detail4 
,the rose window of the west end1 though
 of grand proportions1 appears to fail  
utterly as a supreme effort because of  
the flatness and depression given to its
 circumferential outline4 ,like that of 
,st4 ,gatien at ,tours it is of an      
uncertain lozenge shape1 while the      
effect is further lessened by the       
mediocrity of its glass and framing4    
,the general appearance of the interior 
is one of symmetrical grandeur1 wherein 
the effect of each dimension is probably
 enlarged1 but with a fine and          
consistent proportion4 ,its conventional
 embellishments are not unduly ornate2  
though1 for that matter1 they do not    
give the impression of being wanting to 
any great degree either in quality or   
quantity4 ,in no particular1 however1 is

 the sculptured form of figure or       
foliage of that excellence and magnitude
 of that of the cathedral at ,reims or  
at ,amiens4  ,the magnificent           
proportions of the choir well merit the 
term of ,burgundian opulence4 ,its      
termination opens with an amplitude     
often wanting in even a larger building1
 the piers being wide apart1 without    
screening1 which heightens still more   
its generous proportions4  ,the two     
picturesque cardinal's hats1 with cord  
and tassels1 have long been pendant from
 the vault of the choir1 and are now    
dimmed in colour and thick deep with    
dust1 seemingly destined to fall of     
sheer old age and decrepitude4 ,further 
particulars concerning this picturesque 
detail are wanting only from the lack of
 any one in attendance from whom one    
might get this information1--perhaps    
some reader of these lines may be more  
fortunate4  ,on the pavement of the nave
 is a brass rule1 inlaid diagonally from
 the north to the south wall4 ,its      

original use appears to be clothed in   
some obscurity1 one informative person  
stating that it is the line of          
departmental division1 and another that 
it marks the meridian of ,paris1 which  
is shown on all ,french navigation      
charts4 ,its real purpose is evidently  
topographical rather than of religious  
or symbolical significance4  ,an ardent 
,french writer deplores the fact that   
there is no monument here to show       
respect for ,louis ,,xi41 who was born  
at ,bourges and baptized in the         
cathedral2 a pity1 perhaps1 and         
certainly a subject worthy of the       
consideration of the powers that be4    
,illustration3 ,,cathedral of ,s4 ,,cyr 
,ste4 ,,juliette ,,nevers  ,,iii  ,,st4 
,,cyr ,,and ,,st4 ,,juliette ,,de       
,,nevers   ,a unique experience is one's
 first contemplation of the gay little  
city of ,nevers from the ,pont du       
,loire1 with the none too large         
,cathedral of ,st4 ,cyr and ,st4        
,juliette crowning1 as it were1 the apex

 of a series of steep rises from the    
,loire1 which1 even at this distance    
from the sea1 still retains its ample   
breadth4 ,said ,arthur ,young in his    
plain and bald phraseology1 ,nevers     
makes a fine appearance4 ,here1 on the  
very threshold of the southland1 it is  
something of a shock to be brought at   
once into intimate association with     
,italian influences and types of        
architecture2 for1 be it recalled1      
,nevers has been truly an ,italian      
stronghold in the midst of ,france1 with
 little to remind one1 but its speech1  
that it is merely a provincial ,french  
market-town4 ,nevers was the seat of the
 ,italian ,dukes and ,counts of ,nivre1 
who built the ducal palace1 the         
ci-devant chateau1 now the ,palace of   
,justice4 ,here1 later1 dwelt the nephew
 of the great ,mazarin1 who said his    
king had a heart more ,french than his  
speech4 ,through his efforts the        
,nivernais was incorporated with the    
,french crown in #affi4  ,this fine     

turreted1 towered1 and decorated        
building1 with its sculpture attributed 
to ,goujon1 is to-day1 in appearance at 
least1 what it was in the past1--the    
typical urban domestic establishment of 
grand proportions and splendid          
appointments2 though it may hardly be   
said to vie with such masterpieces as   
,chambord1 ,chenonceau1 or ,blois4 ,nor1
 for that matter1 is the town itself    
entitled to rank1 as to its events of   
historical importance or the fame or    
personality of its bishops or counts1   
with either ,chartres or ,le ,mans1 both
 of which it somewhat approaches in     
point of size4  ,aside from its many and
 varied charms1 which have been duly set
 forth by most writers on the ,french   
provinces who have had anything whatever
 to say about it1 ,nevers should be     
doubly endeared to all makers of        
guide-books and students of             
ecclesiastical architecture1 from the   
fact that the ,abb ,bourass1 ,honorary  
,canon of ,nevers1 here wrote and       

dedicated to his bishop1 ,mgr4 ,duftre1 
a work treating of the ,french          
cathedrals which will ever rank as one  
of the most delightfully written and    
useful books of its class4 ,this fact   
perhaps is hardly to be reckoned as of  
historical moment1 but pertinent to the 
plan of the present work nevertheless4  
,nowhere1 not even in ,provence or      
,acquitaine1 are to be noted more       
significant tendencies toward a southern
 influence in the matter of civil and   
ecclesiastical building4 ,true1 many of 
the minor structures have to-day        
descended unto base uses1 and many of   
their perfections and beauties are      
therefore sunk below the surface4 ,for  
instance1 where a palace has become a   
warehouse1 or a church been turned into 
a stable1 or been given over to the uses
 of a wine factor4  ,before even        
considering the cathedral               
itself1--dedicated to the hero of the   
legendary tale concerning ,st4 ,cyrus1  
who1 depicted as a naked child riding   

astride a wild boar1 was able to turn   
the infuriated beast from a certain     
,king ,charles 7further designation not 
given7 and preserve him from danger1--it
 is well to know that most authorities  
agree in giving habitation here to one  
of the most perfect ,romanesque churches
 in all northern ,europe1 that of ,st4  
,etienne1 built in #ajfc-if1 and        
consecrated in the latter year by ,ivor1
 ,bishop of ,chartres4 ,of the century  
contemporary with this fine work1 as yet
 hardly spoiled by any offensive        
restorations1 are two columns1 in the   
easterly portion of the ,cathedral of   
,st4 ,cyr1 which bear the date of #ajbd4
 ,from this foundation the lover of     
churches will rear for himself an       
exceedingly interesting and uncommon    
type4  ,not of the first rank1 ,st4 ,cyr
 has the power to hold one's attention  
far more closely and interestingly than 
many of greater worth and magnitude2 and
 its environment1 from every point of   
view1 composes itself into a picture    

which it would be hard to duplicate4    
,the grouping of the chevet of the choir
 with the low roofs of the town lying at
 its base1 and the gardens of the ducal 
chateau in the immediate foreground1    
forms an unusually varied combination of
 the picturesque4  ,the wealth of       
,nevers in architectural monuments would
 be notable in a town many times its    
size4 ,the ,port de ,paris1 a not       
especially attractive ,renaissance      
gateway1 guards the northerly1 and the  
,port du ,croux the westerly1 end of the
 town4 ,this latter groups nobly with   
the west end and tower of the cathedral1
 and is of itself a monument of the     
first rank1 being so designated by the  
,commission des ,monumentes             
,historiques4 ,a feudal defence1 square1
 broad-based1 turreted1 flanked with    
circular watch-towers1 and still further
 strengthened by a barbican which once  
held a portcullis1 this wonderfully     
effective barrier more than suggests the
 medival stronghold4 ,two other towers  

of the ancient enceinte still remain1   
the ,tour ,gougin1 and the ,tour ,st4   
,eloi4  ,intimate acquaintance with the 
cathedral shows a blending1 not         
offensive1 but in no slight manner1 of  
the ,romanesque1 early and late ,gothic1
 and finally ,renaissance styles4       
,nevertheless there is an apparent      
cohesiveness often lacking in a larger  
work1 or in one built within a shorter  
period of time4 ,one distinctly northern
 feature there is2 namely1 the singular 
effect given by the double apse of the  
nave and choir1 reminiscent mainly of   
the ,rhine builders1 that of the eastern
 end being much the older4 ,the         
half-obliterated frescoes of the domed  
vaulting of the western apse indicate   
that it was completed after the pure    
,italian manner at a considerably later 
time than the opposite end4 ,it is      
hardly a beautiful or even a necessary  
feature to either the exterior or       
interior of a great church1 and1        
fortunately1 is unusual in ,france1     

though common enough in ,germany1       
notably at ,mainz1 ,worms1 and ,treves4 
,the most remarkable interior effect1   
aside from this western apse1 is that of
 the lofty ,gothic arches1 springing    
high above the ,romanesque arches of the
 nave1 and naturally of a much later    
date4 ,certainly this must be1 so far as
 the respective proportions of each are 
concerned1 an entirely unique feature4  
,notable evidences are to be seen of    
frescoes1 probably the work of some     
,italian hand1 both on the screen and in
 the domed apse4 ,they have apparently  
been whitewashed over many times1 but   
remorse1 if tardily1 has evidently come 
lately1 and such restoration or         
renovation as has been possible1 has    
been undertaken4  ,a dainty and         
diminutive spiral stairway1 suggestive  
of having been modelled on the lines of 
the grand spirals at ,chambord or       
,blois1 and half enclosed in the        
surrounding wall1 leads to the ,chapter 
,room above4 ,the eastern apse1 and the 

crypt beneath1 are the earliest parts   
readily to be observed and are probably 
the remains of the ,romanesque structure
 built by ,hugh ,,ii4 early in the      
eleventh century1 after the common type 
of the ,auvergnat and ,angevine         
churches4  ,perhaps the best workmanship
 to be noted is that of the             
thirteenth-century chapels surrounding  
the choir4 ,reclus1 a ,french authority1
 has declared that the ornamental       
foliage here is not only really         
admirable as to itself1 but is the      
perfection of imitation1 and extends    
this commendation also to the work on   
the pillars and capitals of the north   
doorway by which the church is usually  
entered4  ,the interior generally is    
brilliant and pleasing1 though good     
glass is mostly wanting1 and the        
uninterrupted flood of light detracts   
measurably from the warmth and geniality
 suggested by the memory of ,bourges1   
,chartres1 or ,auxerre4 ,the rose window
 over the western apse is pitifully weak

 and quite lacking in effectiveness4  ,a
 canopied baldacchino rises above the   
altar and1 being of stone treated in a  
graceful ,gothic manner1 is an ornament 
much more in good taste than the hideous
 mahogany or oaken serpentine atrocities
 which are often erected4  ,it is       
impossible to come into close contact   
with the exterior of this cathedral     
except by approaching it from the       
eastern end4 ,west front there is none4 
,as one has said1 ,it possesses merely a
 western end4 ,the western tower1 of two
 non-contemporary orders of ,gothic     
7fourteenth and fifteenth centuries71   
whether viewed from near or far1 is far 
more pleasing than any other general    
exterior feature4 ,the chevet of the    
choir extends1 as it were1 well into the
 nave1 there being no transepts4 ,this  
is evidently a local custom1 recalling  
the neighbouring cathedrals at ,bourges 
and ,auxerre4  ,the sculptured          
decoration of the later portion is      
exceedingly well disposed1 and of such  

magnitude and numbers as to lack that   
poverty in the ensemble often apparent  
in a more pretentious work4  ,the       
,church of ,st4 ,etienne in ,nevers1 so 
thoroughly ,roman in inception of design
 and execution of detail1 indicates more
 vividly than any other example that    
might possibly be taken1 the shortness  
of time in which the ,gothic development
 actually took place4 ,with ,notre ,dame
 at ,paris full in mind1 it is well to  
recall that these accepted perfect      
examples of two contrasting types are   
scarce a hundred and fifty miles apart1 
and1 in point of time1 but sixty years4 
,what an exemplification this surely is 
of the transition which came to the art 
of church building in the twelfth       
century2 what extraordinary rapidity of 
conception and development1 and how     
narrow were the confines of the true    
,gothic spirit1 indigenous only to the  
royal domain1 which alone produced the  
churches which fully merit the concisely
 expressed definition of ,gothic3 ,a    

manner of building maintained           
7sustained7 by a system of thrust and   
counter thrust4     ,illustration3      
,,cathedral of ,s4 ,,mamm,s ,,langres   
,,iv  ,,st4 ,,mammes ,,de ,,langres     
,langres is reminiscent of but one other
 cathedral city in the north of ,france2
 like ,laon1 it occupies and fortifies  
the crest of a long drawn out hill1 or1 
to give it dignity1 it had perhaps best 
be called in the language of the native 
de la montagne de ,langres1 since from  
its apex1 it is truly dominant of a wide
 expanse of horizon4  ,of the           
,burgundian transition type1 the        
,cathedral at ,langres1 dedicated to    
,st4 ,jean the ,evangel and ,st4        
,mammes1 is in many ways a remarkable   
architectural work1 but contaminated    
beyond cure by two overbearing          
,greco-,roman towers and a portal of the
 mid-eighteenth century4 ,as a relief1  
there adjoins the main body of the      
church1 on the southeast1 one of those  
masterworks of the supreme ,gothic      

era1--a canon's cloister of an exceeding
 thirteenth-century beauty4 ,in other   
respects1 the exterior is of little note
 except as to its wonderful degree of   
prominence in the general grouping of   
the roofs of the town1 when the city is 
viewed from below4  ,the interior       
spreads itself out in severe and        
imposing lines with hardly a remarkable 
feature in either transepts or nave4    
,the organ-loft1 a ,calvary1 and a      
marble statue of the ,virgin1 by        
,lescornel1 a sculptor of ,langres1 and 
a few modern sculptured monuments1 are  
the only decorative attributes to be    
seen1 if we except the ,renaissance     
,chapelle des ,fonts ,baptismaux with   
its sculptured vaulting on the left4    
,the symmetrical choir is in itself the 
true charm of ,st4 ,mammes4 ,it has a   
fine ambulatory1 and a range of eight   
monolithic columns1 removed1 says       
tradition1 from an ancient ,pagan       
temple4 ,their capitals are ornamented  
with carven foliage1 grimacing heads1   

and fantastic animals4  ,a              
sixteenth-century screen surrounds the  
choir1 but is more like unto a triumphal
 arch than a churchly accessory4  ,the  
high altar is a comparatively modern    
work1 as may be supposed1 and dates only
 from #ahaj4  ,on the right of the choir
 is an elaborate ,roman doorway1 and    
preserved in the ,chapter ,room are five
 paintings depicting the ,chaste        
,susanne4 ,a remarkable collection of   
reliques is shown by the sacristan1 in  
the ,chapelle des ,reliques4     ,v     
,,notre ,,dame ,d',,auxonne   ,the small
 town of ,auxonne1 lying between ,dijon 
and ,besanon1 is seldom thought of in   
connection with a cathedral church4     
,there is little there to compel one's  
attention beyond the fact that the      
,church of ,notre ,dame1 of the         
fourteenth-sixteenth century1 is an     
interesting enough example of a minor   
edifice which at one time was classed as
 a cathedral4  ,the church is mainly    
,gothic and has the unusual arrangement 

of a ,romanesque tower rising above the 
transept4     ,,part ,v  ,east of ,paris
     ,i  ,,introductory   ,no arbitrary 
territorial arrangement can be made to  
include with exactness each and every   
ecclesiastical division1 but1 since the 
,royal ,domain and the immediately      
adjacent territory includes the major   
portion of what are commonly accepted as
 the ,grand ,cathedrals1 it has been    
thought permissible1 in the present     
case1 to make a further subdivision     
which shall include ,boulogne and ,st4  
,omer1 north of ,paris2 eastward to the 
,rhine and southward to include ,dijon  
and ,besanon4 ,a topographer might not  
make such a division or arrangement of  
territory2 but no other seems possible  
which shall include the region lying    
between the extremes of ,besanon and    
,boulogne4  ,the local characteristics  
or architectural types differ widely    
within these limits1 both as to style   
and excellence4 ,in one way1 only1 have 
they advanced under conditions of unity1

 that of the establishment of a         
,christian church1 but1 otherwise1 now  
favouring the northern influence and now
 the southern4 ,the frontier provinces  
have1 as a natural course1 been subject 
to many retarding influences which have 
been wanting elsewhere2 for invasion    
from without may be depended upon to be 
as baneful for the preservation of a    
nation's art treasures as a revolution  
from within4 ,the ,christian element    
early forced its way among the ,franks1 
and ,clovis1 at the solicitation of his 
,christian queen and her bishop1 was not
 averse to adopting what he might       
otherwise have regarded as a            
superstition4 ,his conversion at ,reims 
not only fostered and propagated        
,christianity1 but gave an impetus to   
the foundation and building of churches 
in a most generous fashion4  ,the region
 to the eastward of ,paris1 which has   
played no unimportant part in the       
history of ,france1 while prolific as to
 varied types of church building1       

possesses but one example of the very   
first rank1--and that1 as a style which 
typifies ,gothic art1 may be said to    
rank supreme over all others1--,notre   
,dame de ,reims4 ,as the seat of the    
,metropolitain1 and the ,city of        
,coronations1 it was allied closely with
 early affairs of ,church and ,state4   
,the principles and manner adopted by   
,guillaume of ,sens in his great works  
early affected the style here1 as seen  
by the many transition examples1 just as
 the influence of the ,monk of ,st4     
,bnigne of ,dijon caused the            
round-arched species of the west of     
,france4 ,at all events the primitive   
,gothic influences were early at work   
and in a measure absorbed the           
,romanesque tendencies which had        
flourished previously4  ,the most       
notable exception1 an example of the    
distinctly southern type1 is at         
,besanon1 which has a remarkable array  
of contrasting style1 with the          
,romanesque1 though not of the best1    

predominating4  ,with the cathedrals in 
the extreme northerly section we have   
little to do1--in fact there is little  
that can be said4 ,st4 ,omer is         
possessed of a wonderful old church     
which at one time ranked as a cathedral1
 and which has glimpses here and there  
of very good ,gothic4 ,there are also1  
in this otherwise not very interesting  
city1 two other church buildings worthy 
of more than an ordinary amount of      
attention1 the ruins of the ,abbey of   
,st4 ,bertin and the ,church of ,st4    
,denis4  ,boulogne-sur-,mer has a modern
 pseudo-classical structure built well  
into the nineteenth century4 ,it is more
 notable as a monument to the industry  
of the man who brought about its        
erection1 taking the place of a former  
structure burnt during the ,revolution1 
than as a satisfactory example of a     
great church4 ,the same may be said with
 equal truth of the atrocious           
,renaissance and ,pagan structures to be
 seen at ,cambrai and ,arras1 though the

 conditions under which they were built 
differ4 ,at ,cambrai1 however1 the      
present building replaces a former      
structure levelled by fire4             
,chalons-sur-,marne1--dear to every     
,french patriot as being renowned for   
the manufacture of flags1 a suffragan of
 ,reims1 has a remarkable cathedral of  
,romanesque foundation of the fifth to  
the seventh centuries4 ,its warlike     
record1 from #bgc ,a4 ,d41 when         
,aurelian vanquished ,tetricus1 to the  
occupation by the ,germans in #ahga1 is 
one long succession of military affairs4
 ,to-day the city is the domicile of the
 most important army corps of ,france4  
,these towns1 with ,nancy1 ,toul1 and   
,st4 ,di in the valley of the ,moselle1 
complete the list of those cities which 
by any stretch of territorial boundaries
 could be classed under the head of     
,east of ,paris4  ,it may be a debatable
 point as to whether ,strasbourg and    
,metz might not have been included2 the 
writer is inclined to think that they   

might have been1 though their interests 
and influences have always been more    
,teutonic than ,gallic1--still1 they are
 thoroughly ,germanized to-day1 and1 as 
we cannot interrupt the march of time1  
and the present volume will otherwise   
approach the limits originally set out  
for it1 they must perforce be omitted4  
,illustration3 ,,cathedral ,,nancy      
,illustration3 ,,boulogne               
,illustration3 ,st4 ,,omer              
,illustration3 ,,arras  ,,ii  ,,notre   
,,dame ,,de ,,boulogne-,,sur-,,mer      
,boulogne-sur-,mer is one of those      
neglected tourist points through which  
the much travelled person usually rushes
 en route to some other place4 ,it      
perhaps hardly warrants further         
consideration except for the history of 
its past1 and its intimate association  
with certain events which might         
seriously have affected the history of  
,england4 ,it is1 however1 an           
interesting enough place to-day1 if one 
cares for the bustle and rush of a      

seaport and fishing town1--not very     
cleanly1 and overrun with tea-shops and 
various establishments which cater only 
to the cockney abroad1 who gathers here 
in shoals during the summer months4     
,there is1 too1 a large colony of       
resident ,english1 probably attracted by
 its nearness to ,london1 and possibly  
for purposes of retrenchment1 for there 
is no question but that the franc1 of   
twenty per cent4 less value than the    
shilling1 accomplishes quite as much as 
a purchasing power4 ,this must be quite 
a consideration with pater-familias with
 a limited income derived from ,consols 
or some other traditionally excellent   
investment4  ,most travellers are       
familiar with what attractions ,boulogne
 really does offer1 but few if any would
 consider its very modern and ugly      
cathedral one of them4  ,perched in the 
centre of the ,haute-,ville1 overlooking
 the city and port1 the ,cathedral of   
,notre ,dame exists to-day more as a    
monument to the energy and devotion of  

its founder than as a notable           
architectural work4 ,it follows no      
particular style1 except that it is     
,italian of the most debased general    
type1 though no doubt parts of it meet  
the dimensions and formulas laid down by
 accepted good examples in its native   
land4 ,there is no doubt but that its   
domed cupola is manifestly out of place1
 though this detail is the only feature 
which gives the cathedral any           
distinction4  ,a ,gothic church stood   
here up to the ,revolution1 and the     
building of the present structure was   
devotedly undertaken to replace its loss
 by a doubtless earnest man1 who1 in his
 zeal1 sought to build after what he    
considered a newer if not a better      
style4 ,parts of the crypt are of the   
ancient twelfth century church2 but the 
structure above dates from #ahbg-ff4    
,its faade1 of a poor classical order1  
is flanked by two slight cupola towers  
equally meaningless and insignificant4  
,surmounting the central dome is a      

colossal statue of the ,virgin4  ,the   
interior is in no way remarkable or     
interesting4 ,there are a few monuments 
and a gorgeous high altar of precious   
marbles1 mosaic1 and bronze1 the gift of
 ,prince ,alex ,torlonia4 ,the          
lady-chapel is still resorted to as a   
place of pilgrimage by the seafaring and
 fisher folk of the neighbourhood4  ,a  
modern reproduction of a sarcophagus    
from the catacombs at ,rome forms the   
tomb of ,mgr4 ,haffreingue 7#ahga74     
,,iii  ,,notre ,,dame ,,de ,,cambrai    
,cambrai is one of that quartette of    
cathedral cities of northern ,france    
which in no sense take rank as          
ecclesiastical shrines of even          
ordinarily interesting1 much less       
beautiful1 attributes4 ,of the other    
three1 ,arras1 ,st4 ,omer1 and          
,boulogne1 ,st4 ,omer alone is possessed
 to-day of anything approaching the     
great ,gothic churches which were spread
 broadcast throughout ,france during the
 five centuries of church building in   

the middle ages4  ,in manners and       
customs1 and indeed in speech to some   
extent1 these cities all partake        
somewhat of the locale of those of the  
,low ,countries4 ,these attributes1     
which have retained their original      
identities across the borders1 were for 
many centuries1 and even so late as the 
seventeenth century1 existent in ,french
 ,flanders4 ,curiously enough1 in none  
of these cities are any of the primitive
 ,gothic types to be noted in the       
cathedral churches1 though many possess 
their olden-time belfries and watch     
towers1 preserved to-day with something 
of the local pride which evinces itself 
elsewhere with respect to cathedrals4   
,it is possible that this is due to the 
fact that this great industrial centre  
of northern ,france is more given to the
 arts of manufacture than to the        
devotion of church-going or even of     
church building4 ,another notable and   
almost universal feature of these cities
 are the ,renaissance or ,romanesque    

gateways1--silent reminders to-day of   
the medival communities which they once 
protected1 and of the warlike invasions 
of the past4  ,the ,cathedral of ,notre 
,dame de ,cambrai is on the site of an  
older abbey church1 which was of the    
same ugly style as the present edifice  
itself1 but which dated1 however1 only  
from the early eighteenth century4 ,the 
present building is said to furnish a   
replica1 of the vintage of #ahei1 of the
 tasteless and crude style of the       
earlier building4 ,there are statues    
therein of ,fenelon1 ,bishop ,belmas1 by
 ,david d',angers1 and of ,cardinal     
,regnier2 and a series of grisaille     
windows1 after originals by ,rubens1 by 
,geeraerts of ,anvers4  ,the chimes of  
,cambrai rank among the most noted in   
,europe4 ,they are composed of          
thirty-nine bells and produce a         
carillon1 very agreeable1 says a ,french
 authority4 ,they certainly do1--the    
author can endorse this from a personal 
knowledge1--and they have not as yet    

descended to such banalities as popular 
military marches4 ,the largest bell1    
given by ,fenelon in #aghf1 weighs      
#g1ejj kilos4     ,illustration3 ,notre 
,dame de ,cambrai  ,,iv  ,,notre ,,dame 
,,de ,,st4 ,,omer   ,under ,baldwin of  
,hainault1 ,artois1 including ,st4      
,omer1 was ceded to the kingdom of      
,france as late as the mid-seventeenth  
century4 ,few minor churches are        
possessed of the galaxy of charms and   
attractions of the ci-devant ,cathedral 
of ,notre ,dame at ,st4 ,omer4 ,hardly  
in the accepted forms of good taste are 
the ,byzantine slabs of marble stuck    
upon the walls here and there1 as in a  
museum2 the ,renaissance screens2 the   
overpowering organ case2 the votive     
offerings and tablets without number2   
and the alleged wonderful astronomical  
clock1 with its colossal wooden figures 
of the sixteenth century1--all of which 
go to compose a heterogeneous mass more 
interesting as to occasional detail than
 as a thorough expression of saintly    

temperament4  ,the decorative scheme is 
carried still further by the large      
number of paintings with which the      
church is hung2 a tribute none too      
common in ,france1 and more usually     
associated with the ,flemish churches of
 nearly every rank4 ,a reflection of    
their preminence in this respect is     
naturally enough visible in ,french     
,flanders4  ,the ,descent from the      
,cross1 attributed to ,rubens1 appears  
likely enough to be a genuine master1   
but it has been so roughly restored by  
overpainting1 that it is to-day of      
impaired value4  ,st4 ,omer1 among all  
the group of northeast ,france1 presents
 a true ,gothic example in its great    
,basilique de ,notre ,dame1 and it is a 
pity that its further development was   
along lines which indicate a trend1 at  
least1 toward debasement4 ,this is      
plainly to be noted in the tracery of   
the lower and clerestory windows of nave
 and aisles4  ,its enormous tower covers
 nearly the entire western end of nave  

and aisles1 in much the same way as     
those of some of the fortified churches 
of the south4 ,its ,gothic is of the    
true perpendicular style1 however1 and1 
with the general grand proportions of   
the building1 gives that immensity and  
massiveness which is associated only    
with a church of the first rank4 ,the   
arcs-boutant of the nave are hardly     
deserving of mention as such1 though    
they are manifestly sturdy props which  
perform their functions in perhaps as   
efficacious a manner as many more       
graceful and delicate specimens         
elsewhere4 ,there is just a suggestion  
of a central tower1 which1 as is often  
the case in ,france1 has dwindled to a  
mere cupola1 if it had ever previously  
grown to a greater height4 ,the         
transepts are of imposing dimensions1   
that on the south having an enormous    
rose of perhaps thirty-five feet in     
diameter1 with an elaborately carved    
portal below1 which contains a ,last    
,judgment in the tympanum4 ,the choir1  

chevet1 and chapels1 while existent to a
 visible and very beautiful degree1 are 
somewhat overshadowed by the great size 
of the transepts4 ,there is this to be  
said1 however3 that the choir1 a        
restoration of our own day1 presents1 as
 to style1 the type of ,gothic purity at
 its height4 ,it has five radiating     
chapels1 not including that of ,notre   
,dame des ,miracles1 which adjoins the  
south transept and contains innumerable 
votive tablets4 ,for the rest1 except   
for the fact that the interior partakes 
of a mere collection of curios and      
relics1 it is in general no less        
imposing in its proportions than the    
exterior4 ,the clerestory windows1      
however1 are of ill proportions for so  
grand a structure1 being short and      
squat2 and here1 as elsewhere throughout
 the building1 is to be found only      
modern glass4  ,the great bell of the   
western tower weighs #h1ejj kilos4      
,chief among the notable accessories and
 reliques is the monolithic tomb of ,st4

 ,erkembode1 bishop of the one-time see 
of ,throuanne1 period #gbe-cg4 ,the     
sarcophagus itself1 dating from the same
 century1 was brought here from the     
original site4 ,the tomb of ,st4 ,omer  
was restored in the thirteenth century  
and shows a remarkable sculptured group 
of ,christ1 the ,virgin1 and ,st4 ,john1
 called the ,great ,god of ,throuanne4  
,it was saved from the ruin of the      
church at ,throuanne1 which was         
destroyed with the greater part of the  
town in #aecc by ,charles ,v41 in       
revenge for the loss of three           
bishoprics1 as history states4 ,at this 
time the sees of ,st4 ,omer and         
,boulogne were founded4  ,the near-by   
,palace of ,justice1 built by ,mansart  
in #afhj and enlarged for its present   
use in #ahdj1 was the former ,episcopal 
,palace4  ,st4 ,omer has also two other 
grand churches1 ,st4 ,sepulchre1 of the 
fourteenth century1 and the ruins of    
,st4 ,bertin 7#acbf-aebj71 which1 before
 the ,revolution1 with ,st4 ,ouen at    

,rouen1 and the collegiate church at    
,san ,quentin1 was reckoned as one of   
the most beautiful ,gothic abbeys in    
,france4 ,to-day it is a magnificent    
ruin1 its huge tower 7built in #adca7   
and portions of the nave and crossing   
being all that remain4 ,it was          
considered the finest church in the ,low
 ,countries1 and for size1 purity1 and  
uniformity of style it ranked with the  
best of its contemporaries4     ,v      
,,st4 ,,vaast ,d',,arras   ,the capital 
of ancient ,flanders was removed from   
,arras to ,ghent when ,artois was ceded 
to ,france1 and thus it was that the    
city became ,french1 as it were1 but    
slowly1 its ,low ,country traditions and
 customs clinging closely to it until a 
late day4 ,the former ,cathedral of     
,notre ,dame ranked as a grand example  
of the ogival style of the fourteenth   
century1 in which it was built1 and gave
 to the city of the tapestry makers the 
distinction of possessing a church      
composed of much that was best of the   

architecture of a fast growing art4     
,such was the medival rank to which the 
cathedral at ,arras had attained4 ,the  
new ,cathedral of ,st4 ,vaast1 dating   
from #agee to #ahcc1 is of the ,grecian 
style of temple building1 little suited 
to the needs of a ,christian church4    
,the crucial plan consecrated by        
catholic usages of centuries is not     
however wholly abandoned4 ,there is     
something of a suggestion of the ,latin 
cross in its design1 but its abside     
faces toward the southeast rather than  
due south1 with its principal entrance  
to the northwest1 a sufficiently unusual
 arrangement1 where most ,french        
churches are duly orientated1 to be     
remarked1 particularly as there is      
little that can be said in praise of the
 structure4 ,the interior follows the   
general plan of the ,corinthian order2  
the windows1 neither numerous nor of    
sufficiently ample dimensions to well   
serve their purpose1 number nine only in
 the choir1 and five on each side of the

 nave4  ,there are1 to the abside1 seven
 collateral chapels1 some of which      
contain passable sculptured monuments1  
removed from the old abbey of ,st4      
,vaast1 a foundation erected in the     
sixth century and reconstructed by      
,cardinal de ,rohan in #aged4 ,the      
remains of the old abbey buildings have 
been built around and incorporated in   
the present ,episcopal ,palace1 the     
extensive ,muse1 and ,bibliotheque2 and 
are situated immediately to the right of
 the faade of the cathedral4  ,the      
grisaille glass seen in the interior is 
unusual1 but mediocre in the extreme4   
,there are1 however1 some good statues  
in white marble in the ,chapelle de ,st4
 ,vaast1 while in another chapel1 given 
by ,cardinal de la ,tour d',auvergne1 is
 one equally good of ,charles ,borrome4 
,there are four great statues at the    
extremities of the transepts1           
representing the four evangelists2 and  
three others in the choir1 of ,faith1   
,hope1 and ,charity4  ,in the north     

transept1 also1 are two triptychs of the
 ,flemish school1 by ,bellegambe1 a     
native of ,douai 7#aebh74  ,the ,abb    
,bourass1 in his charming work on the   
cathedrals of ,france1 says1 plainly1   
and without fear or favour3 ,we have    
tried to speak impartially of all       
species of architecture--but why do we  
not admire the ,cathedral of ,arras8 ,it
 is against all traditions of 'notre art
 catholique4' ,we contend that this is  
not good4 ,what1 say you1 can we praise8
 ,it is a great work--of the            
stone-mason2 you should study it from   
some distance4 ,it is without life1     
without movement1 without dignity4      
,whatever may be the faults of its      
cathedral1 ,arras is1 nevertheless1 an  
interesting city1--modernized1 to be    
sure1 by boulevards laid out along the  
old fortifications4 ,the ,citadel of    
,vauban 7#afgj71 called ironically la   
belle inutile1 may be classed as a      
worthless1 if not wholly unpicturesque1 
ruin1 though ranking1 when built1 as    

among the most wonderful fortifications 
of the times4 ,the wave of ,renaissance 
which swept northward has left its      
ineradicable marks here4 ,the ,htel de  
,ville is a remarkable specimen of that 
art of overloading ornament upon a      
square hulk1 and making it look like a  
wedding-cake2 though1 truth to tell1    
coming upon it after the chilliness of  
the cathedral itself1 it is a cheerful  
antidote4 ,dating from #aeaj1 at which  
time was built the curious ,gothic faade
 of seven arches1 each different as to  
size and spring4 ,the added wings in    
elaborate ,renaissance are of the late  
sixteenth century and rank among the    
most effective examples of the style in 
,france4 ,a belfry surmounts all1 #bdj  
feet in height1 the joyeuse of which    
weighs nearly nine tons4  ,arras may    
perhaps be most revered for its         
tapestries1 its workers taking rank with
 those of the famous manufactories at   
,paris and ,beauvais4 ,indeed1 it would 
appear as though experts knew not to    

which of these three centres to assign  
precedence1 both ,arras and ,paris      
claiming the honour of having set up the
 first looms4 ,it is an ancient art1 as 
the work of craftsmen goes1 and more    
than one writer who has studied deeply  
the fascinating intricacies of haute and
 basse lisse1 of colour1 texture1       
design1 and what not1 has not hesitated 
to proclaim the city as having been the 
grandest centre of tapestry-making which
 the world has ever known2 and regret   
can but be universal that it came to an 
end when its citizens were put to the   
sword by ,louis ,,xi4     ,illustration3
 ,,toul  ,,vi  ,,st4 ,,etienne ,,de     
,,toul   ,annexed to ,france1 in company
 with ,metz and ,verdun1 in #aeef1      
,toul1 situated on the left bank of the 
,moselle1 is to-day ranked as a fortress
 of the first order4 ,can be seen in two
 hours--such is the description usually 
given by the guide-books to the city    
which contains1 in its one-time         
,cathedral ,st4 ,etienne1 an example    

which1 with respect to the decorative   
tracery of its faade savants have       
declared the equal even of ,reims4  ,one
 of the three former bishoprics of      
,lorraine1 ,toul is none too ample to   
merit the cognomen of a large town4 ,it 
once held within its walls1 beside the  
,cathedral1 the ,church of ,st4         
,gengoult1 and several parish churches  
and monasteries4 ,shorn to-day of some  
of these dignities1 with its bishopric  
removed to ,nancy1 it ranks as a        
military and strategic stronghold rather
 than a centre of churchly domination4  
,since ,metz and ,strasbourg were given 
over to the ,germans1 ,toul's former    
fortress has been greatly strengthened4 
,the cathedral itself may truly be said 
to bear the characteristics of both the 
,german and ,french manner of building1 
the western or later end being a superb 
front1 after the ,french manner1 and the
 easterly or earlier end having a simple
 apse and long narrow windows1 in the   
,german fashion4 ,a comparison has been 

made by ,professor ,freeman between the 
western faade of this church and ,notre 
,dame de ,reims4 ,he says1 ,we are      
daring enough to think that1 simply as a
 design1 the west front of ,toul outdoes
 that of ,reims2 though it will be      
hardly needful to prove that1 as a      
whole1 ,reims far outdoes that of ,toul4
 ,quite non-committal1 to be sure1 as   
was this charming writer's way2 but1 of 
itself1 a sort of preparation to the    
observer for the beauties which he is to
 behold4 ,here is the case of a superb  
richness having been added to a plainer 
body1 and by no means inharmoniously    
done4 ,the gable is nearly perfect as to
 its juxtaposition4 ,the towers are     
higher in proportion than at ,reims1    
giving the effect of being the finished 
thing as they stand1 though lacking     
spires or pinnacles4 ,the walls are of  
those just proportions in relation to   
the window piercings which is again     
,french1 as contrasted with a           
neighbouring example at ,metz1 where the

 reverse is the case4  ,the city was the
 seat of a bishop as early as the sixth 
century1 and its government was under   
his control until #abfa1 when it became 
a free commune4 ,finally it was         
conquered by ,henry ,,ii41 and its      
future assured to ,france by the ,treaty
 of ,westphalia4  ,the cathedral dates  
in part from ,romanesque remains of the 
tenth century1 but its entire interior  
arrangements were much battered during  
the ,revolution4  ,the choir and        
transept are of the best of             
thirteenth-century building1 while the  
nave and side aisles are of the century 
following4 ,two towers1 which flank the 
magnificent faade1 rise for nearly two  
hundred and fifty feet1 and are the work
 of ,jacquemin de ,commercy in the      
fifteenth century4 ,adjoining the right 
aisles are the very beautiful ,gothic   
cloisters of the thirteenth and         
fourteenth centuries4 ,they form a      
rectangular enclosure1 #bbe feet by #afe
 feet1 and are made up of twenty-four   

sections of four arches1 each with      
clustered columns4  ,a fine sculptured  
altarpiece1 ,the ,adoration of the      
,shepherds1 is in the ,chapelle de la   
,creche1 entered from the cloister4     
,the present ,htel-de-,ville was        
formerly the bishop's palace4           
,illustration3 ,north ,portal ,cathedral
 ,chalons-sur-,marne  ,,vii  ,,st4      
,,etienne1 ,,ch,,lons-,,sur-,,marne     
,chalons is perhaps first of all famed  
as the scene of ,attila's great defeat  
in the fifth century1 one of the world's
 fifteen decisive battles4  ,the        
,cathedral of ,st4 ,etienne is not      
usually considered to be a remarkable   
structure2 but it is thoroughly typical 
and characteristic of a locale1 which   
stamps it at once with a mark of        
genuineness and sincerity4 ,of early    
primitive ,gothic in the main1 it shares
 interest to-day with the four other    
churches of the city1 not overlooking   
,notre ,dame de l',epine1 some five     
miles distant to the northward1 one of  

the most perfectly designed and         
appointed late ,gothic churches which   
the world has ever known4 ,it has been  
called a miniature cathedral1 using the 
term1 it may be supposed1 in the sense  
of referring only to a magnificently    
ornate church4 ,it is indeed worth a    
pilgrimage thither to see this true gem 
of architecture in a wholly undefiled   
countrified setting4  ,the ,cathedral at
 ,chalons-sur-,marne follows somewhat   
the traditions of the ,german manner of 
building1 at least so far as a certain  
plainness and lack of ornate decoration 
in the main body of the church is       
concerned2 likewise in the arrangement  
of its towers1 which lie to the eastward
 of the transepts2 and further with     
respect to its decidedly ,teutonic      
arrangement of the rounded columns1 or1 
more properly1 pillars1 of its nave4    
,in general this thirteenth-century     
church is in the best style of its era2 
but the west front presents an          
incongruous seventeenth-century addition

 in the whilom classical style of that  
day1 bad as to its art1 and apparently  
badly welded into conjunction with the  
older portion4 ,the aisles and          
clerestory windows are of the later     
decorated period of ,gothic1 and        
present1 whether viewed from without or 
from within1 an exceedingly fine        
appearance4  ,probably the finest and   
most pleasing impression of the whole   
structure is that obtained of the       
interior1 with its pillars of nave and  
choir1 of the massive order made        
familiar in the ,rhine churches4 ,a     
reasonable share of twelfth to sixteenth
 century glass is still left as its     
portion1 and the general arrangement of 
the choir1 prolonged1 as it is1 well    
into the nave1 gives a certain majesty  
to this portion of the church which is  
perhaps not warranted when we take into 
consideration that it must perforce     
dwarf the nave itself4 ,the arrangement1
 though not common1 is by no means an   
unusual one1 and it is recalled also1   

that it is so employed at ,reims4       
,situated near the frontier1            
,chalons-sur-,marne has ever been       
subject to that inquietude which usually
 befalls a border city4 ,german         
influences have ever been noticeable1   
and1 even to-day1 the significant fact  
is to be noted that a cur will hear     
confessions in ,german1 and that        
services are held in that tongue on     
,saturdays in ,st4 ,joseph's ,chapel4   
,the ,episcopal ,palace1 behind the     
cathedral1 contains a collection of some
 sixty paintings1 the gift1 in #ahfd1 of
 the ,abb ,joannes4     ,illustration3  
,s4 ,,di  ,,viii  ,,st4 ,,di   ,st4 ,di 
gets its name1 by the corruption of     
,dieudonn1 from ,st4 ,deodatus1 who     
founded a monastery here in the seventh 
century4 ,it was built1 as was many     
another great cathedral1 in accordance  
with the custom of erecting a church    
over the body or relic of a saint whom  
it was especially desired to honour2    
usually one of local importance1 a      

patron or a devotee4  ,the town is      
perhaps the most inaccessible and       
out-of-the-way place which harbours a   
cathedral in all northern ,france4 ,we  
might perhaps except ,st4 ,pol-de-,leon 
and ,trguier in ,brittany1 neither of   
which is on a railway1 whereas ,st4 ,di 
is1 but at the very end4 ,when you get  
there and want to go on1 not back1 you  
simply journey on foot1 or awheel if you
 can find a conveyance1 and take up with
 another loose end of railway some      
fifteen miles away1 which will take you 
southward1 should you be going that way4
 ,if not1 there appears to be nothing   
for it1 but to retrace your steps whence
 you came4  ,the cathedral 7locally ,la 
,grande ,eglise1 it only having been    
made a cathedral so recently as #aggg7  
has a fine ,romanesque nave of the      
eleventh century1 with choir and aisles 
of good ,gothic1 after the accepted     
,rhine manner of building4  ,the portal1
 of red sandstone1 is of inferior       
thirteenth-century workmanship1 with    

statues of ,faith and ,charity on either
 side4 ,the faade is flanked by two     
square towers4  ,the interior is        
curiously arranged with a cordon of     
sculpture1 high in the vaulting4 ,the   
capitals of the pillars are likewise    
ornamented with highly interesting and  
ornately sculptured capitals4 ,the      
choir1 as is most usual1 is the         
masterpiece of the collection1 the      
windows1 in particular1 being of the    
purest ogival style4  ,in the first     
chapel1 on the right1 is a painting1    
,the ,martyrdom of ,st4 ,sebastian1 and 
behind the choir is an ancient work     
commemorative of ,le ,peste de ,st4 ,di4
     ,illustration3 ,,st4 ,,lazare      
d',,autun  ,,ix  ,,st4 ,,lazare         
,d',,autun   ,this ancient episcopal    
city has ever been devoted to the cause 
of ,christianity4 ,nowhere1 says a      
,french historian1 has the ,church      
enjoyed more repute than here4 ,the     
,dukes of ,burgundy1 its bishops and    
people alike1 joined in a fervour of    

labour and zeal to assure its permanence
 and progress4 ,in addition1 the        
,gallo-,roman remains point to a former 
city of proud attainments4 ,the fine    
,roman walls1 beautifully jointed1 sans 
cement1 are distinctly traceable for a  
circuit of perhaps three miles around   
the city4 ,other interesting remains are
 two fine gateways1 commonly referred to
 as triumphal arches1 which they        
probably were not1 the ,porte d',arroux 
and the ,porte ,st4 ,andre2 the ruins of
 an amphitheatre2 and a tower assigned  
to a former temple of ,minerva4 ,all    
these1 and more1 are found inside the   
old walls2 while1 without1 are remains  
of an aqueduct1 of a tower dedicated to 
,janus1 and a ,roman bridge crossing the
 river ,torenai4 ,it may be interesting 
for an ,englishman to recall that the   
,bishop of ,autun1 who often presided   
over the ,national ,assembly1 pleaded in
 vain with ,george ,,iii4 for the       
adoption1 in ,england1 of the ,french   
metric system4  ,during the destruction 

of a former building1 ,st4 ,nazaire1    
which at one time performed the         
functions of a cathedral1 the bishops   
held their offices in the chapel of the 
chateau of the ,dukes of ,burgundy2 but1
 upon the removal of the residence of   
the house of ,burgundy to ,dijon1       
transferred their services to the       
present edifice1 which had by that time 
been completed4  ,the ,cathedral of ,st4
 ,lazare is a charmingly graceful1      
though not great1 structure1 mainly of  
the style ogivale premier1 its early    
,lombard work of the nave and west front
 being of the foundation of ,robert ,i41
 ,duke of ,burgundy4 ,this vast western 
portal is encased in a great projective 
porch1 a feature indigenous apparently  
to ,burgundy1 and commonly referred to  
as the ,burgundian narthex4 ,following  
come the chapels and spires1 of         
exceeding grace and beauty1 of the third
 ogivale style4  ,the interior          
enrichments1 like the western doorway1  
with its ,romanesque sculptures1 take   

rank with the best in ,burgundy4 ,the   
delicately carved rood-loft1 or jube1   
the small sculptures of the choir and   
nave1 and the flamboyant chapels of the 
fifteenth to seventeenth century1       
challenge minute attention from those   
who would study decorative detail in    
extenso4 ,the capitals of certain       
columns in the nave have fluted         
pilasters in imitation of the antique1  
but are most curiously ornamented with  
grotesque and fantastic human figures on
 a background of foliage4  ,the choir1  
of early pointed style1 in its actual   
disposition and arrangement1 may be     
included in that classification which   
comprehends some of its more important  
northern compeers1 though1 as a matter  
of fact1 it lacks their magnitude4      
,indeed1 the building is one of the     
smallest cathedrals in all ,france4 ,the
 exterior offers an imposing and        
picturesque ensemble1 with its crocketed
 spire rising some two hundred and fifty
 or more feet above the roof-tops of the

 ancient city4  ,nearer inspection shows
 a certain incoherence of construction1 
particularly in reference to the        
evidences of garish crudities in the    
work done under ,robert ,i4 in #ajca-gf1
 in contrast to the later pointed work4 
,the doorway of the lateral southern    
wing is ornamented with a series of     
grossly exaggerated columns1 in         
imitation of the antique1 with the      
addition of an apse1 which contrastingly
 shows work of a late flamboyant order4 
,the spire itself is the masterwork of  
the entire structure1 and1 unlike those 
which surmount many another church1     
appears not to have suffered the dangers
 of fire4 ,as a fifteenth-century work1 
it merits special mention4 ,rising      
abruptly from a heavy square base1 the  
pyramid is very acute1 and is ornamented
 at the angles with foliaged crockets1  
basely called stone cauliflowers by     
unimaginative persons4 ,one might say1  
with the gentle ,abb ,bourass1 that the 
ornamentation breaks into sky and cloud 

with an exceedingly agreeable effect1   
far beyond that of a straight line4 ,the
 inconsistency lies only in the         
juxtaposition of the two western        
transition towers1 which have hardly    
enough of the ,gothic in them to merit  
the name4  ,the lower windows of the    
nave are of good flamboyant style1 with 
a sort of ,romanesque triforium1 and a  
simple round-headed window in each bay  
of the clerestory1 which is the more    
poor in treatment and effect in that it 
holds no notable glass4 ,there are none 
of those distinctly northern            
accessories1 the great rose windows1 and
 the whole reeks of distinctly a milder 
atmosphere4 ,there is a luxuriance of   
decoration in the many chapels of       
different epochs4  ,the exterior1 in    
general1 is of excessive simplicity2    
but1 if it is not to be placed among    
those cathedrals and churches accredited
 the most notable and most beautiful1 it
 will1 at least1 take rank as one of the
 most ancient to be seen to-day1 and has

 the further benefit of a glorious      
environment and association with the    
past4     ,illustration3 ,,cathedral of 
,s4 ,b,,nigne ,,dijon  ,x  ,,st4        
,b,,nigne ,,de ,,dijon   ,the power and 
wealth of the ,dukes of ,burgundy1 whose
 influence extended northward to the    
,netherlands1 where they often held     
court at ,ghent and ,bruges1 were1 in a 
way1 responsible for the opulence and   
splendour of the life of the day4 ,so1  
too1 ,burgundian architecture became a  
term synonymous for the amplitude and   
grandeur with which many of its         
institutions were endowed4  ,the reign  
of ,philippe le ,bon1 with that of      
,charles the ,bold1 the most ambitious  
prince who ever graced his line1 was the
 ,augustan age of ,burgundian art4 ,it  
was the dream of the latter to          
reincarnate the old ,burgundian kingdom 
by annexing ,lorraine and subduing the  
advancing ,swiss ,confederacy1 an       
ambition which failed1 like many others 
as1 or more1 worthy4 ,the conquered duke

 was killed at ,nancy1 and was finally  
buried in ,notre ,dame at ,bruges4  ,the
 ,cathedral of ,st4 ,bnigne is an       
outgrowth from the old abbey church1    
from which the ,italian monk1           
,guillaume1 set forth to found that     
remarkable series of monasteries in     
,normandy and ,brittany4 ,it is said1   
too1 that he crossed the ,channel1 and  
had a large share in the works which    
were erected at that period in the south
 of ,england4 ,the bishop's throne has  
been established in this church only    
since the ,revolution1 caused by the    
destruction of his former cathedral4    
,the early foundations of the old abbey 
date far back into antiquity1 but the   
present cathedral dates only from the   
thirteenth century4 ,commonly considered
 as of ,gothic style1 it is in every way
 more suggestive of the late            
,romano-,byzantine type1 or at least of 
the early transition4 ,there is1 to be  
sure1 no poverty of style2 but there is 
an air of stability and firmness of     

purpose on the part of its builders1    
rather than any attempt to either launch
 off into something new or untried1 or  
even to consistently remain in an old   
groove4  ,as a fact1 it is not a very   
grand building4 ,its choir is small1 and
 its transepts short4 ,in its plan1 at  
least1 it resembles the ,byzantine form 
much more than the elongated ,gothic1   
where every proportion seems to reach   
out to its utmost extent4  ,the west    
faade is truly fine in the disposition  
of its parts and arrangements4 ,it      
suggests1 more than anything1 a         
traditional local style1 favouring      
nothing else to any remarkable degree   
except the ,german solidity so often to 
be noted in eastern ,france4 ,the towers
 are firmly set with unfrequent pointed 
openings4 ,the central portal and       
vestibule are deep1 and rich with a     
sculptured ,martyrdom of ,st4 ,peter and
 a delightfully graceful arcade just    
above the portal arch1 and another      
crossing the gable and joining the      

towers in a singularly effective manner4
 ,a somewhat heavy but rich pointed     
window of three lights1 surmounted by a 
quatrefoil rose1 with a slight          
needle-like spire which rises just above
 the gable1 completes the ensemble4     
,the earlier work1 seen at its best in  
the interior1 is that of the choir and  
transepts1 where again the              
distinguishing features are local4 ,in  
the transepts the arches open directly  
on the side chapels1 the southern arm   
being gorgeous with brilliant glass4    
,the windows of choir and transepts     
throughout are richly traceried and set4
 ,the choir itself is destitute of      
either ambulatory or chapels4  ,a       
lantern is placed at the crossing1      
supported by gracefully foliaged shafts4
  ,the nave is of a much later period1  
and is not of the richness of the       
portion lying to the eastward4 ,the     
windows of the clerestory1 in           
particular1 will not be considered of   
the excellence of those of either       

transept or choir4  ,the south tower    
encloses the tombs of ,jean sans ,peur  
and ,philippe le ,hardi4 ,the crypt     
contains the tomb of ,st4 ,bnignus4     
,illustration3 ,,cathedral of ,,notre   
,,dame ,,senlis  ,,xi  ,,notre ,,dame   
,,de ,,senlis   ,truly rural is a term  
which may well be applied to the        
situation of ,senlis1 the ancient       
,civitas ,sylvanectensium of the        
,romans4 ,quaint and attractive to the  
eye is the entrance to the town from the
 railway1 with its low-lying roofs1 over
 which tower the spires of the ancient  
,cathedral of ,notre ,dame and the      
,church of ,st4 ,pierre4 ,it forms a    
heterogeneous mass of stone1 to be sure1
 and one which looks little enough1 at  
first glance1 like the delicate and     
graceful cathedral which makes up the   
mass in part4 ,it is1 in reality1 a     
confused jumble of towers and turrets   
which meets the eye1 and it takes some  
little acquaintance with the details    
thereof to separate the cathedral from  

the adjacent church4  ,the proximity of 
the sees of ,beauvais1 ,amiens1 and     
,paris perhaps accounts for the lack of 
importance attached to this cathedral4  
,as for the structure itself1 among the 
minor cathedrals of ,france1 ,senlis1   
with ,sez and ,coutances1 must ever rank
 as the peers of that order1 with       
respect to the grace and beauty of their
 spires4 ,it may be doubted if even the 
spires of ,chartres are to be considered
 as more beautiful than the diminutive  
single example to be seen here1         
particularly when grouped with its      
surrounding environment4 ,individually1 
as well1 its grace and beauty might even
 take that rank4 ,the demarcation       
between the base of the tower and the   
gently dwindling spire is almost        
entirely eliminated1 without the        
slightest tendency toward debasement in 
the steeple1 which too often is merely a
 series of superimposed1 meaningless1   
and unbeautiful details4 ,latter-day    
builders1 who want a model for the spire

 of a moderate-sized ,gothic church1    
could1 it would seem1 hardly do better  
than to make a replica of this graceful 
example4  ,in its faade1 the ,cathedral 
of ,notre ,dame de ,senlis partakes     
largely of the characteristics of the   
primitive lowland types1 reminiscent1 at
 least1 of ,noyon or ,soissons1 and1 as 
such1 it may properly be considered and 
compared with them4  ,the transepts of  
the north and south are not grand       
members1 but they are compact and       
graceful1 and the faade of the southern 
arm is of a highly ornate character1    
bespeaking a wealth of ambition1 if not 
of ability1 on the part of the          
architect4  ,the interior1 in spite of  
the lack of sculptured ornament1 shows  
no paucity of style1 and1 except that it
 is of the bijou variety1 might take    
rank at once as representative of       
,gothic style at its best4 ,under these 
conditions1 the nave is naturally       
confined1 and lacks a certain grandeur  
both as to width and height4  ,the choir

 is of true1 though not lofty1          
proportions1 the aisles appearing       
perhaps too low1 if anything1 for the   
height of the nave1 which otherwise     
appears exceedingly generous with       
respect to the extent of its triforium  
and clerestory4  ,the transepts1 though 
shallow1 are possessed of unusually     
amplified aisles1 there being1 as a     
matter of fact1 two in that portion     
which adjoins the nave on the west1 a   
sufficiently unusual arrangement to     
warrant comment4 ,the rose windows of   
the transepts have graceful design and  
good framing1 though the glass is not of
 the splendour which we associate with  
the most pleasing examples seen         
elsewhere4     ,,xii  ,,st4 ,,etienne   
,,de ,,meaux   ,to the eastward of      
,paris1 one first finds the true country
 atmosphere at ,meaux1 famous for its   
bishops1 its grist-mills1 and its       
generally charming environment4  ,the   
picturesque little city is situated on  
the ,marne1 some thirty miles from      

,paris1 amid a verdure which1 if not    
luxuriant1 is1 at least1 a fringe of    
green that is appealing alike to local  
pride1 and to the artist or stranger    
within the gates4 ,it is an ancient     
bishopric 7now suffragan of ,paris71    
founded in #cge ,a4 ,d4  ,illustration3 
,,st4 ,,etienne de ,,meaux  ,the        
,cathedral of ,saint ,etienne de ,meaux 
is called by the ,french the ,child of  
,amiens1 and it would have all the      
dignity of its mother had but the nave  
received the same development as the    
choir4 ,its general dimensions are      
restrained1 and it shows in no way any  
remarkable architectural ensemble2 but1 
for all that1 its power to please is    
none the less great4 ,lacking a certain 
symmetry1 in itself no great fault1 the 
exterior gives the impression of being  
to-day much less grand and imposing than
 was really planned4 ,battled by wind   
and weather1 its outer walls have that  
scarred and aged look which is a beauty 
in itself4 ,there are two towers1 one of

 which is unfinished and capped with an 
ugly and angular slate roof1 so low that
 it hardly exists at all1 so far as     
forming a distinct feature of the faade 
is concerned4 ,its companion1 however1  
rises boldly and in graceful lines to a 
generous height above the gable4  ,the  
interior plan is regular and simple1    
with a nave of five bays1 the first two 
from the west being divided into the    
infrequent quadruple range of openings1 
while the remainder consist of the usual
 triforium and clerestory only4 ,the    
double aisles of the nave are of unusual
 height1 in order to admit of this      
double range of openings4  ,the         
transepts1 if transepts they can be     
considered1 are very shallow1 being     
merely the depth of the double aisles of
 the nave and choir1 and are bare and   
unadorned so far as any notable         
sculpture or glass is concerned1 though 
the arched windows which hold the plain 
glass are of grand proportions and      
excellent design as to their framing4   

,the triforium1 throughout1 is an       
arcaded cloister-like effect of slight  
arches1 supported by slender columns1   
with a series of glazed windows behind4 
,it would be a notable and wholly       
charming arrangement were the glass of  
these windows rich in colour1 or even   
old in design4  ,there is an air of     
singular lightness1 if not actually of  
grace1 throughout the entire nave and   
choir1 superinduced1 perhaps1 by the    
recent whitening and pointing of the    
masonry2 but the not infrequent bulging 
piers1 particularly those nearest to the
 transept crossing1 give a suggestion of
 ungainliness if not of actual          
insecurity4  ,the columns of the choir1 
supporting a series of firm and         
gracefully poised arches1 are of unusual
 height1 something over forty feet1 it  
would appear1--producing a harmony of   
form and elegance which again reminds   
one of ,amiens4  ,there are here copies 
of the nine ,raphael tapestry cartoons1 
the originals of which are preserved at 

,south ,kensington1 also of frescoes by 
,guido ,reni and ,domenichino4  ,the    
chief artistic1 if not architectural1   
charm to be seen within the purlieus of 
the cathedral is that of the ancient    
chapter-house1 across a narrow way1 to  
the right of the church itself4 ,this   
gem of medival building is perhaps not  
remarkable as to any of the principles  
which it sets forth in its manner of    
construction1 but it takes one back some
 hundreds of years1 a sheer plunge far  
beyond the age of the most prominent    
features of the main church1 and gives a
 thrill somewhat akin to the emotion    
which one feels when he comes across a  
single leaf torn from an old illuminated
 manuscript4 ,this charming ruin1 for it
 is hardly more than that1 being a mere 
lumber-room1 shows in the weathered look
 of its covered stairway nearly all of  
the qualities which the painter loves to
 depict1--colour1 texture1 and1 above   
all1 that indescribable charm which     
artistic folk1 and others who can see as

 they do1 call life4  ,clearly1 the     
,cathedral of ,st4 ,etienne de ,meaux1  
as an interesting shrine1 may be classed
 well at the head of the secondary      
cathedrals of the third ,gothic period4 
,illustration3 ,,cathedral ,,of ,,saint 
,,pierre ,,troyes  ,,xiii  ,,st4        
,,pierre ,,de ,,troyes   ,to the        
thorough student of ,english history1   
,troyes is perhaps first recalled as    
being the birthplace of the treaty      
decreeing for ever a common sovereign   
for ,england and ,france1 a treaty      
which1 it is minded1 stood no while4    
,again1 some dubious antiquary has put  
it forward as the home of that variety  
of weights which are not avoirdupois4   
,the ,counts of ,champagne had1 in the  
once well-walled city1 both a castle and
 a palace4 ,olden-time houses1 good     
,gothic woodwork and ,renaissance       
stonework1 are here in abundance2 also1 
according to the authority of           
,fergusson1 a well-nigh perfect ,gothic 
church in ,st4 ,urbain2 likewise a great

 cathedral1--rather ugly as to its      
general outline4 ,all these are         
possessed by ,troyes1 and to-day the    
reminders and remains of each and all   
are exceedingly vivid and substantial4  
,certain cathedrals of ,france show     
plainly the different phases and        
developments of the art of building     
through which they have passed2 others  
indicate little1 if any1 deviation from 
a certain accepted style4 ,st4 ,pierre  
de ,troyes is of the first category4    
,here is ,gothic in all its variations4 
,its environment1 too1 is characteristic
 of the many varying moods through which
 its constituency has passed4 ,a truly  
medival city in the picturesqueness of  
its older portions1 ,troyes is famed    
alike in affairs of ,church and ,state4 
,the dimensions of the ,cathedral at    
,troyes1 which approach those of the    
grand group1 and the general majesty of 
its interior only further this opinion4 
,the main body covers the none too      
frequent arrangement of five aisles1    

which1 following through the transept1  
continue1 with the double pair on each  
side1 to likewise girdle the choir4 ,the
 splendour of immensity is further      
enhanced by its large windows1 including
 two rose openings set with old glass1  
and the general richness of its         
sculptured decorations4 ,the abside of  
the choir is ranked among the best      
,gothic works of the time4  ,the choir1 
begun in #abjf1 is composed of thirteen 
arcades1 symbolical of ,christ and the  
twelve apostles1 from the chief of whom 
the cathedral takes its name4 ,the      
windows of the triforium are large and  
divided into four compartments4 ,the    
general disposition of the choir1 with  
its radiating chapels1 is superb2 and it
 is exactly this satisfying1 though     
perhaps undefinable1 quality that is    
ofttimes lacking in an originally       
well-planned work which fails to inspire
 one4 ,the choir contains an iron grille
 of the thirteenth century1 of very     
beautiful workmanship1 and is surrounded

 by five hexagonally sided chapels4     
,the principal portion of the nave1     
erected in the fourteenth1 fifteenth1   
and sixteenth centuries1 interrupted now
 and again by war and civil             
distractions1 bears indelible impress of
 its continued centuries of growth4     
,the principal faade of the fifteenth   
century--accredited to one ,martin      
,chambige and erected just after the    
nave took form--is of the richness of   
,gothic only just previous to its       
decline4 ,there are three portals1 which
 are bare of sculptured figures1 as     
indeed is the whole west front4 ,in     
arrangement1 it resembles the           
frontispieces of certain of the grand   
cathedrals1 and1 though lacking their   
sculptured ornateness1 is thoroughly    
satisfying as a decorative frontage4    
,had it been executed fifty years later1
 it would be hard to imagine to what    
depths its lines might not have fallen4 
,as it is1 the upper ranges of the tower
 suggest the thought4 ,the windows of   

the aisle and of the clerestory of the  
nave1 when viewed from the exterior1 are
 grandly traceried and gracefully       
coupled by a series of light1 firm      
buttresses1 which rise1 only from the   
gables of the lower set1 over the       
low-lying roof to the spring of the arch
 of the upper range4 ,st4 ,pierre de    
,troyes suggests1 in a mild way1 the    
sheer glass walls so frequently referred
 to by adulous ,french critics when     
chanting the praises of the highly      
developed lightness of their indigenous 
style4 ,this is further accentuated when
 one notes the glazed triforium1 a      
decorative feature reminiscent of that  
at ,sez1 ,nevers1 ,tours1 and ,st4 ,ouen
 at ,rouen4  ,troyes is one of those    
prominent cathedral cities of ,catholic 
,france whereof the churchman deplores  
the fact that its men are not of the    
church-going class1 and that its        
congregations are mostly of the fair    
sex4 ,be this as it may1 except in      
,brittany1 where the whole population   

appears unusually devout1 the stricture 
is probably true in a great measure of  
all of the north of ,france2 and1 be it 
here said1 recent political edicts will 
doubtless not tend to increase the      
propaganda of piety4  ,the north gable1 
with its portal and rose window1 is of  
the fifteenth century1 and1 with the    
lustrous rose of the south transept1    
forms a pair of brilliant jewels which  
are hardly excelled elsewhere1 not even 
by the encircled splendour of the       
forty-foot openings at ,reims and       
,amiens1 the equally extensive one of   
the north transept at ,rouen1 or1 most  
splendid of all1 the galaxy at          
,chartres4 ,these marvels of ,french    
ingenuity and invention are nowhere more
 splendidly proportioned or embellished 
than at ,troyes1 and are equally        
attractive viewed from either within or 
without4  ,the chief tresor consists of 
a series of wonderful medival enamels4  
,illustration3 ,,cathedral ,,of ,,saint 
,,etienne ,,sens  ,,xiv  ,,st4 ,,etienne

 ,,de ,,sens  ,says the ,abb ,bourass1  
,one of the most beautiful titles to    
glory in a church is the antiquity of   
its foundation1 hence1 most ,french     
antiquaries who have written upon the   
subject of the celebrated ,cathedral of 
,st4 ,etienne of ,sens have enlarged    
upon its glorious antiquity4 ,to prove  
or verify the fact as to whether ,st4   
,savinien or ,st4 ,potentien was the    
first to preach ,christian religion here
 would be a laborious undertaking4      
,evidences and knowledge of ,roman works
 are not wanting1 and early ,christian  
edifices of the ,romanesque order must  
naturally have followed4 ,one learns    
that an early church on this site was   
entirely destroyed by fire in #igj1 and 
that a new edifice had progressed so far
 that it was dedicated in #iig4 ,this1  
in turn1 was mostly rebuilt1 and1 two   
hundred years later 7#aafh71 took the   
form of the present cathedral4 ,it was  
completed1 in a rather plain and heavy  
ogival style1 under the capable         

direction of the ,william who came to   
,canterbury1 in response to a call1 to  
rebuild the choir of that ,english      
church in #aagd4 ,it is this link1 and  
possibly a sight of the vestments of    
,becket1 now preserved among the tresor 
of ,sens1 that binds its memory with    
,english contemporary life4 ,whatever   
may be the contentions waged as to the  
claims of ,english ,gothic1 it is       
universally and unimpeachably admitted  
that ,guillaume de ,sens rebuilt that   
famous choir of ,canterbury1 and built  
it well1 and of a newer order of design 
than any previous work in ,england4 ,so 
let it stand4  ,taken by itself1 the    
,cathedral at ,sens is a high example of
 ,christian art4 ,when1 however1 it is  
compared with the grand group1 it is    
relegated immediately to the second     
rank4 ,the interior1 far more than the  
exterior1 shows a visible disparity of  
unified style4 ,romano-,byzantine1      
transition1 and ogival are all found in 
the nave and choir1 with the flamboyant1

 of the fifteenth century1 in the       
ornamental tracery of the windows of the
 transepts4  ,some visible remains of   
the earlier structure are shown1 built  
into the eleventh century walls4 ,of the
 same period are other evidences of a   
former erection1 to be noted in the     
aisles4 ,the transept and the greater   
part of the nave are of the century     
following1 and of the early thirteenth1 
and finally the three arcades1 by which 
the nave is entered1 are something very 
akin to the full-blown ,renaissance of  
the fifteenth century4  ,the general    
plan is symmetrical1 and severe1 only   
the twenty chapels being ungracefully   
disposed4 ,ten of these are in the choir
 and ten in the nave4 ,for the          
antiquary1 versed in religious          
archology1 the ,cathedral of ,sens would
 appear1 from the very inconsistencies  
and exuberance of its style1 to be of   
great interest4 ,the fragments that     
remain of its former magnificent glass1 
the sculptured monuments1 and the tombs 

and curiosities of the tresor1 which    
escaped ,revolutionary spoliation1 all  
combine in a glorious attraction for one
 who has the time and inclination to    
delve into the reminiscence of history  
and association of a past age4  ,the    
glass of the choir1 and of the chapel of
 ,st4 ,savinien1 is of the thirteenth   
century4 ,the colour is exceedingly     
brilliant1 lively1 and harmonious1 with 
the iridescence of a mosaic of precious 
stones4  ,the sixteenth-century glass1  
none the less than the framing itself1  
of the grand rose windows of the north  
and south transepts1 is equally         
remarkable as to design and colour4 ,the
 former represents the ,glorification of
 ,jesus ,christ1 and the latter ,events 
in the ,life of ,st4 ,etienne4  ,the    
tresor of the cathedral is very numerous
 and is considered the richest in all   
,france4 ,the most notable are a        
reliquary of gold1 set with sapphires   
and pearls1 containing a fragment of the
 ,true ,cross1 given by ,charlemagne in 

the year #hjj2 four magnificent         
tapestries of the time of ,charles ,v41 
representing the ,adoration of the      
,magi2 and the pontifical robes of ,st4 
,thomas 7 ,becket71 chasuble1 aube1     
stole1 manipule1 cordon1 two mitres1 and
 two collars4 ,this courageous          
archbishop1 persecuted by ,henry ,,ii41 
took refuge in ,sens in #aafb4 ,an      
elaborate tomb 7of the eighteenth       
century71 by ,constant1 is the mausoleum
 of the ,dauphin1 father of ,louis      
,,xvi4     ,,part ,,vi  ,western        
,normandy and ,brittany     ,i          
,,introductory   ,most people who have  
read ,ruskin1 and most people have done 
so--in the past1 will undoubtedly concur
 with his dictum that ,rouen's          
associated ,norman cities1 ,bayeux1     
,caen1 ,coutances1 ,st4 ,lo1 ,lisieux1  
and ,dieppe1 run the entire gamut of    
medival architectural notes2 or1 as     
,ruskin himself has put it1 from the    
,romanesque to the flamboyant4 ,he might
 well have added1 the ,renaissance and  

the pseudo-classicism of a later day4   
,beauties there are in this region1     
galore2 and the examples which no longer
 exist1 but of which the records tell1  
point to a still larger aggregate4  ,who
 thinks to-day of ,coutances as of being
 a cathedral town8 ,and yet1 there is   
within it1 as to the general effect of  
situation and the magnitude of its      
towering pinnacles1 an edifice which    
perhaps outranks all but the very       
greatest4 ,most likely no thought is    
given it at all1 except that ,coutances 
is somewhere on the railway line between
 ,cherbourg and ,paris1 or that it is   
near unto ,bayeux2 also possessed of a  
magnificent cathedral1 but whose        
greatest fame lies in a certain false   
sentiment associated with its famous    
tapestry4 ,not that this great work is  
to be decried1--far from it1 but the    
spirit with which it is so often viewed 
should be a matter of scorn for every   
broad-minded traveller4  ,lisieux1 too1 
has a wealth of attraction for those who

 fondly admire reeking picturesqueness  
and old timbered houses1 though its     
cathedral will not please4  ,pugin could
 not resist depicting many of these     
delightful old houses of ,lisieux in his
 book on ,normandy1 though1 unlike      
,ruskin1 he had no eye for its          
cathedral2 most of us will not have4    
,so much1 then1 as a plea for a more    
sincere and thorough appreciation of the
 charms of western ,normandy4 ,it is    
cheap2 accessible1 and has a practically
 inexhaustible store of treasure for the
 traveller or student of limited time or
 money1 but who will not make of it the 
usual mere bank-holiday scamper4 ,the   
same applies also to ,brittany1 which is
 treated elsewhere1 with this proviso1  
that the tourist afoot or awheel is far 
better equipped than he who has to      
depend upon steam and the rail1 two at  
least of ,brittany's cathedrals being   
off the line4     ,,ii  ,,notre ,,dame  
,d',,evreux   ,the ,cathedral at ,evreux
 is another of those edifices which     

gives one its best impression when first
 seen upon entering the city4           
,charmingly1 possibly romantically1     
situated1 it lies in a shallow valley   
with all the picturesqueness of its     
varied style limned against the sky in  
truly impressionistic fashion4 ,this    
impression1 when viewed from the slight 
eminence by which the railway enters the
 town1 is a vista of rambling roofs and 
a long1 sloping street running gently   
down to the very foot of the structure1 
which1 set about and interspersed with  
verdure1 as it is in the spring and     
summer months1 warrants one in counting 
his introduction to this charmingly     
attractive1 though non-consistent1 type 
of church1 as one of the events which   
will live in memory for years4          
,illustration3 ,notre ,dame d',evreux   
,if towering spires and pinnacles were a
 sine qua non for a great and imposing  
architectural style1 this church would  
at once rank as one of the most         
delightful examples extant2 for these   

very features1 albeit they are mostly of
 what we have come to accept as a       
debased form of art1 are nevertheless   
possessed of a grandeur and magnificence
 which in many worthy examples are      
entirely lacking4 ,the pair of western  
towers1 of ,romanesque foundation1 were 
developed1 not in what one knows as     
,gothic1 but of the manifest and        
offensive pseudo-classic order4 ,they   
are capped1 however1 with something more
 akin to ,moorish or an ,eastern        
termination than ,italian4 ,the spire   
which surmounts the central crossing is1
 without question1 a reminiscence of    
much that has been accepted as good     
,gothic form in the great               
central-towered ,english churches4 ,up  
to a certain point this can hardly be   
denied2 but this rather weak1 effeminate
 spire1 which forms such an unusual     
attribute of a ,french cathedral1 more  
than qualifies its right to a place in  
the first rank of spires4 ,as for the   
rest of the exterior1 it is a mlange of 

nearly every known architectural style4 
,undeniably fine in parts1 like the     
curate's egg1 if a time-worn simile may 
be permitted1 it forms an ensemble which
 would preclude its ever being accorded 
unqualified praise from even the most   
liberal-minded and optimistic           
enthusiast4  ,by far the most coherent  
view to be had near by is that from the 
gardens of the ,archbishop's ,palace    
immediately to the rearward of the      
choir4 ,here the clipped trees1 the warm
 coloured wall1 along which the vines   
are trained1 and what was once a canal1 
or moat1 in the foreground1 combine to  
present a singularly artistic and       
pleasing composition4  ,the north       
transept1 of ,bishop le ,veneur1 is of  
the superlative degree of its era 7early
 sixteenth century71 bordering upon the 
profusion of splayed ornament which so  
soon after turned to dross1 but         
standing1 as it does1 of itself1 clearly
 defined4 ,the gulf was finally crossed 
when1 less than a half-century later1   

the incongruous west front with its     
ill-mannered towers was built1--in      
itself a subject worth a deal of study  
from the artist who would picture graven
 stone1 but contrasting unfavourably    
enough with the heights to which ,french
 ecclesiastical architecture had just   
previously soared4 ,here is offered the 
one unified ,renaissance faade of a     
,french cathedral1 welded1 as it were1  
in unworthy fashion1 to a fabric with   
which it has nothing in common4 ,the    
stone-mason here superseded the         
craftsman2 and1 with the termination of 
the reign of ,franois ,i41 and following
 with that of ,henry ,,ii41 came the    
flowering rankness of a degenerate weed1
 leaving1 as evidence of its            
contaminating influence in this one     
example alone1 traces of nearly every   
classical order1 from the simple ,doric 
column to a hybrid which shall be       
unnamed4  ,the interior presents a      
general array of incongruities quite as 
remarkable as those of the exterior4    

,the nave is very narrow2 but the choir 
widens out perhaps a dozen feet on      
either side1 adding immeasurably to an  
effect which is far more impressive than
 might otherwise be supposed4  ,the nave
 itself shows many varieties of         
building1 ranging from the ,gothic of   
the early twelfth to the late fifteenth 
centuries2 the lower part and the       
easterly bays are ,romanesque1 or what  
perhaps has been popularly accepted as  
,norman1 and date from #aabe2 the       
remainder and the triforium are of a    
century later4  ,the choir is of the    
decorated species of the early          
fourteenth century1 with its arcaded    
triforium glazed1 whereas in the nave it
 is without glass4 ,the lady-chapel1 of 
the time of ,louis ,,xi41 shows that    
inevitable mark of degeneracy1 the      
fleur-de-lys1 in the elaborated tracery 
of the window framing4 ,the glass here  
is1 however1 excellent1 in effect at any
 rate1 with its gorgeous figures of     
knights1 angels1 and peers of ,france1  

drawn with a masterly skill which is    
often lacking in even more precious     
glass4  ,the chapel screens1 some twenty
 in all1 are wondrously turned and      
carved of wood4 ,this leads one to      
venture the thought that the similar    
decorative embellishments of the        
,renaissance chteaux of the ,loire      
country were slowly creeping northward1 
and leaving their impress upon the work 
of the ecclesiastical builder and       
decorator4 ,certainly1 the numerous fine
 examples of the art of the wood-carver1
 to be seen in this cathedral1 bespeak  
much for the decorative quality of wood1
 when used considerately in conjunction 
with stone4  ,there are two rose        
windows1 of the petal species1          
unquestionably fine as to framing1 but  
leaving little space for the effect of  
the glass1 which they hold only in small
 proportion4  ,the treasury1 alone1 is  
enclosed with iron bars1 and a grille of
 graceful late flowing ironwork forms   
the screen of the choir4 ,altogether the

 ,cathedral at ,evreux will be          
remembered quite as much for its        
wonderful array of wooden and iron      
grilles as for any other of the specific
 details among its mass of general      
attributes4  ,illustration3 ,window     
,framing--,evreux     ,illustration3    
,notre ,dame d',alenon  ,,iii  ,,notre  
,,dame ,d',,alen,,on   ,this former     
capital of the duchy of the same name is
 a sleepy1 countrified ,french town1    
with little but its reputedly valuable  
and beautiful lace to commend it to the 
average observer4  ,as a cathedral town1
 of even secondary rank1 it will fall   
far short of any preconceived ideas     
which one may be possessed of concerning
 it1 though its ,cathedral of ,notre    
,dame is in many ways one of those      
irresistible shrines1 which at least    
promise1 and often fulfil1 a great deal 
more than their lack of magnitude       
indicates4  ,its faade1 lacking the     
conventional towers1 advances well into 
the roadway1 as a sort of forward porch2

 as at ,louviers near by4 ,this porch is
 very ornate1 with decorations of the   
late ,gothic period of flowing tracery4 
,after all1 it is an incongruous sort of
 a building1 in that only this porch and
 its squat central tower1 which is      
nought but a mere cupola1 are in the    
least decorative4  ,the nave1 the choir 
and chevet1 and chapels1 are all of a   
bareness which only exaggerates the     
floridness of these other appendages4   
,the nave itself is but one hundred and 
ten feet long1 and perhaps a scant      
thirty wide1 and dates from the         
fourteenth century4 ,it contains good   
glass of the same period1 which luckily 
escaped the spoliation of the           
,revolution4  ,the choir is more modern1
 and much plainer in treatment1 and is  
but fifty-five feet in length and of the
 same width as the nave4  ,there are no 
transepts2 in short1 the chief and most 
interesting features of the church are  
the before mentioned details1 which1    
unquestionably bordering upon the       

debasement of ,gothic art1 are in every 
way attractive1 with lightness and      
colour1 if such an expression may be    
applied to gray stone4  ,certainly the  
play of sunlight on gracefully carven   
stone is indicative of a brilliancy     
which might be termed an effect of      
colour2 and it is with respect to that  
quality that the west faade of ,notre   
,dame d',alenon appeals2 more than as an
 otherwise grand or even highly         
interesting structure4                  
,illustration3 ,st4 ,pierre de ,lisieux 
,,iv  ,,st4 ,,pierre ,,de ,,lisieux     
,lisieux1 the city of the ,lexavii1     
taken by ,csar and besieged by ,geoffrey
 ,plantagenet2 its old houses2 its      
crooked streets and picturesque decay2  
with its former ,cathedral of ,st4      
,pierre 7,m4 ,h471 memorable as the     
marriage place of ,henry ,,iii4 and     
,eleanor of ,guienne2 all go to make up 
the formula of one of the stock sights  
of ,normandy4  ,it is scarcely an       
attractive town1 in spite of its        

picturesque sordidness1 made the more so
 by the smoke arising from many belching
 factory chimneys4 ,in fact1 one has    
difficulty in thinking of it as a       
cathedral town at all2 and1 as such1 it 
hardly claims more than a brief rsum of 
its important features4 ,a much more    
interesting1 impressive1 and commanding 
church is that of ,st4 ,jacques1 which  
at least has the stamp of a personality1
 which in the cathedral itself is       
entirely wanting1 so far as one's latent
 sympathies are concerned4 ,in spite of 
the purity of that which is ,gothic in  
its fabric1 it has little of that       
quality which arouses admiration1 and   
which1 regardless of the edict of a     
certain seer and prophet1 is mostly that
 for which we revere a great            
monument1--its power to sway us         
impressively4  ,mr4 ,ruskin has taken   
great pains to commend the southern     
portal as being one of the most quaint  
and pleasing doors in all ,normandy1--a 
non-committal enough statement1 most    

will admit1 and one with which we are   
not obliged to agree4 ,a broader-minded 
observer would have said that the main  
body of the church presents a unity of  
design1 very unusual in a medival       
work1--excelled by no other example in  
,france4 ,the greater part of the nave1 
choir1 and transepts is the work of one 
epoch only2 and1 as some writers have   
it1 of one man1 ,bishop ,odericus       
,vitalis1 who died shortly after its    
completion1 in the latter part of the   
eleventh century4 ,as a style1 it may be
 said to be either the last of the      
transition or of the very earliest      
,gothic4 ,certainly this is something in
 its favour2 but the general charm of   
its immediate surroundings is lacking1  
and the effect of its interior1 with the
 diminutive windows of the nave and     
clerestory1 does not tend to satisfy1 or
 even gratify1 one with the sense of    
pleasure which perhaps its more         
creditable features deserve4 ,these are 
not wholly wanting2 for1 of course1 one 

must not forget that doorway of         
,ruskin's nor the quite idyllic         
proportions of the nave with its uniform
 massive pillars4  ,the lady-chapel was 
founded in the fifteenth century by the 
rascally ,cauchon1 ,bishop of ,beauvais1
 who1 with his brother1 prelate of      
,winchester1 so gleefully burned ,joan  
of ,arc4 ,this much he did in expiation 
of his false judgment1 though1 except as
 a memorial of his significant remorse1 
the chapel itself would hardly be       
remarkable4 ,the clerestory of nave and 
choir is considerably later4 ,the       
transepts vary as to their windows1 and 
the triforium arches are here at a      
different level from those in the nave4 
,the general exterior view of the       
cathedral is hardly satisfactory from   
any point4 ,on three sides it is almost 
entirely hemmed in by surrounding       
structures1 and the frontage1 on the    
great open ,place ,thiers1 is the first 
and the last opportunity of an          
unobstructed view4 ,as the ,abb ,bourass

 wrote of the ,cathedral at ,arras1 it  
is best seen from a distance1 about     
that1 we should say1 from which the     
accompanying drawing was made4 ,the     
gardens of the ,sous-,prefecture1       
formerly the ,bishop's ,palace1 should  
form in a way a cool green setting for  
the church2 but1 as a matter of fact1   
they do nothing of the sort1 since the  
enormous mass of a none too good        
,renaissance faade extends along quite  
two-thirds of the length of the         
cathedral on the north1 and blankets it 
thoroughly1 scarcely more than the      
rather stubby tower of the west front   
being visible above the roof of the     
other structure4  ,lisieux apparently   
never ranked as an important see1 but   
depended for the prominence which it    
attained previous to the ,revolution1   
when the see was abolished1 on its      
association with ,rouen1 to which it was
 attached4 ,the neighbouring ,cathedrals
 of ,sez1 ,bayeux1 and ,coutances far   
outrank ,st4 ,pierre de ,lisieux in     

size1 beauty1 and importance4           
,illustration3 ,,notre ,,dame de ,s,,ez 
444  ,v  ,,notre ,,dame ,,de ,s,,ez     
,the ancient ,civitas ,sagiorum of the  
,romans is now a bishopric1 suffragan of
 ,rouen4 ,this ancient ,gallic          
stronghold1 which fared hardly in the   
,anglo-,norman wars1 presents to-day the
 impression of being a town somewhat    
smaller than the usual small town of    
,france4 ,it also has this              
advantage1--it is comparatively unknown 
to tourists1 and likewise to some       
map-makers2 all of which is decidedly in
 its favour4 ,seldom is ,sez included in
 the itinerary of the tourist1 even     
though it is situated in the heart of   
the popular province4  ,except for the  
fact that its charming cathedral is not 
of the generous proportions first       
impressed upon one1 it is difficult to  
realize that such a noble architectural 
memorial should so often be overlooked  
and apparently neglected by those who   
might find a great deal of pleasure1 and

 incidental profit1 from a contemplation
 thereof4  ,as a town of celebrated     
history1 ,sez is of far more relative   
rank than its cathedral1 which1 in spite
 of its many beauties and charm of      
detail1 has suffered perhaps more than  
any other in ,france1 and yet kept a    
fairly pure early ,gothic style2        
referring to the many additions and     
repairs made necessary by crumbling     
walls and sinking foundations4  ,the    
worst that has arisen from this unhappy 
state of affairs is1 not that there has 
been any serious admixture of style1 but
 rather that one gross interpolation has
 been foisted upon an otherwise         
symmetrical whole1--the enormous        
advancing buttresses which flank the    
portal of the western faade2 an addition
 of the fourteenth century1 neither     
graceful nor decorative1 and only made  
necessary by a tottering wall4 ,a pity  
it is that some other equally effective 
method was not adopted4  ,the cathedral 
is1 in a way1 a satisfying              

representation of the cathedral of our  
imagination4 ,from a distance1 at least1
 and in comparison with the low-lying   
structures round about1 it certainly    
appears as of great proportions1 uniform
 and complete in itself4 ,immediate     
contact with it somewhat dispels these  
charms4  ,all things considered1 one    
finds here1 in this idyllic1 countrified
 setting1 a very attractive and fairly  
consistent ,medival ,gothic church of   
the epoch contemporary with that of the 
best work of the northern builders1     
showing unmistakable evidence of having 
been laid down on good lines1 and after 
a good design1 in spite of the          
structural defects of its foundations4  
,from any direction it may be viewed    
across a quarter of a mile of ploughed  
fields4 ,the great national highroad1   
from the ,channel to ,bordeaux1 passes  
straight as a die through the town1 and 
the cross-country line of the ,chemin   
de-,fer de ,ouest ambles slowly         
northward or southward2 with little     

occurring to break the quietude of local
 ease4 ,the native is for the most part 
engaged in garnering from his truck     
farm1 or in carrying its product to the 
railway1 to be transported to market1   
and pays little attention to the stray  
traveller who occasionally wanders in to
 study the architectural offering of the
 town4  ,a completed church was here in 
#ajej1 having been erected by a monk1   
,azon by name4 ,this was burned to the  
ground in an attempt to drive out a     
robber band which had taken shelter     
therein4 ,leo ,,ix4 engaged ,yves1      
,count of ,bellne and the ,bishop of    
,alenon1 to rebuild it1 and restore its 
former splendour4 ,this was in the      
twelfth century1 but1 later1 owing to   
the insecure foundations1 it was pulled 
down and rebuilt again4 ,now nothing    
remains of the former twelfth and       
thirteenth century work but the         
lady-chapel of the choir4  ,the interior
 of the nave is1 at present1 entirely   
filled with scaffolding1 which looks as 

though it might not be removed for      
years4 ,as a restorative policy this is 
commendable and was necessary1 but it   
detracts from one's intimate            
acquaintance with details4 ,about the   
only lasting impression of the nave that
 can now be obtained is that its        
proportions are superb1 and that its    
cylindrical pillars1 with their foliaged
 capitals1 would be notable anywhere4   
,in general effect the choir is         
charming1 having gone through the       
restorative process and apparently      
suffered little thereby4 ,it presents   
the unusual basilica form of setting the
 altar forward on a platform raised a   
few steps4  ,the transepts are of quite 
idyllic proportions1 each possessing an 
ample rose window which makes up in     
design and framing what it may lack in  
the quality of glass with which it is   
set4 ,these transepts1 too1 have        
undergone the usual restoration1 and    
have come safely through with little sad
 effect4 ,it is to be hoped that these  

continued restorations will be carried  
out with the same good taste1 and in a  
like consistent manner4 ,if so1 there   
will be presented for the delectation of
 generations of the near future one of  
the most pleasing of the smaller        
cathedrals in all ,france4 ,the         
triforium of the choir1 and of the nave 
so far as it can be observed through the
 obstructing scaffolding1 is singularly 
light and graceful1 and the window      
framing throughout1 though entirely     
lacking notable glass1 is of manifest   
good design4  ,in fine1 then1 the       
general effect of the ,cathedral of     
,notre ,dame de ,sez is one of lightness
 and grace1 and it may be considered as 
an extraordinarily fine architectural   
monument1 in spite of the anomalies of  
its west front4  ,the twin spires rise  
gracefully for perhaps two hundred and  
fifty feet1 and are after the best      
manner of the great ,gothic builders2 of
 true proportions1 and of the dwindling 
pyramidal form so much approved4  ,the  

faade1 between the towers and the       
extraordinary buttresses1 is completely 
filled with an ample ,gothic portal1    
which1 though entirely destitute of     
sculpture1 or indeed carving of any     
sort1 offers a significant opportunity  
for some future efforts in this         
direction4     ,illustration3           
,,cathedral of ,,notre ,,dame ,,bayeux  
,,vi  ,,notre ,,dame ,,de ,,bayeux      
,the magnificently impressive ,cathedral
 of ,notre ,dame is perhaps less        
intimately associated with ,bayeux in   
the average mind than is the wonderful  
story-telling tapestry which is         
domiciled in the same city4 ,as for this
 treasure of the past1 it is a subject  
so vast1 and of such great significance1
 in both history and art1 that it has   
many times been made the subject of     
weighty consideration4 ,a well-known    
,english amateur1 the ,honourable ,e4   
,j4 ,lowell1 has stated that popular    
tradition has credited it as the        
handiwork of ,matilda1 ,queen of        

,william the ,conqueror1 who worked it  
to commemorate his glorious             
achievements4 ,if this be really so1 the
 queen was probably assisted largely by 
the ladies of her court1 as the         
extensive work1 measuring some hundred  
and sixty odd feet1 could hardly have   
been accomplished single-handed4        
,professor ,freeman assigns it to a     
similar period1 but worked1 as he       
thinks1 by ,english workmen1 for ,odo1  
,bishop of ,bayeux1 the ,conqueror's    
half-brother4  ,a previous acquaintance 
with the great cathedrals of the ,isle  
of ,france will tend somewhat to nullify
 the effect which is produced by ,notre 
,dame de ,bayeux1 although1 in point of 
size and general arrangements1 at least1
 it fulfils its functions perhaps more  
acceptably than many a more renowned    
edifice4 ,its situation1 on the side of 
a steep slope1 produces a curious       
effect1 first1 with respect to the choir
 chevet1 which is thus shown as rather  
gaunt and bare in its lower elongated   

stages1 though undeniably a fine work in
 itself2 secondly1 in the general       
interior view where1 from the western   
entrance1 one comes upon the nave       
pavement a dozen or more steps below the
 portal1 and again meets with the same  
effect further on at the transept       
crossing4 ,there would appear to have   
been no other way but this of placing   
above ground what might otherwise have  
been the crypt2 adding immeasurably to  
the fine appearance of the interior1 the
 nave and choir appearing to lengthen   
out interminably by reason of the       
western elevation from which they are   
viewed4  ,a portion of the western      
towers1 and the crypt which is beneath  
the choir1 are thought to date from as  
early as the eleventh century1 having   
been built by ,odo1 the half-brother of 
,william the ,norman4 ,the splendidly   
proportioned ,norman nave1 with its     
decorated spandrels and archivolts1 a   
worthy decorative embellishment         
developed before the days of coloured   

glass1 possesses that bright and fresh  
appearance which is usually associated  
with a recent work1 whereas1 as a matter
 of fact1 it can hardly be1 in its five 
circular arches at least1 later than the
 late eleventh or early twelfth century4
 ,if it were true that modern           
restorative processes commonly          
disfigured no more than this1 it is a   
pity that the dust and cobwebs1 and a   
little of the grime of ages1 were not   
more often removed4 ,here is the very   
excess of dog-tooth1 arabesque1 and     
grotesque carving1 never found in       
connection with a building which is     
constructively decorative4 ,here also is
 an ornate frieze of no great depth and 
possessing none of the beauties of the  
two other distinct elements4 ,as there  
is no triforium in the nave proper1 this
 decoration is1 of course1 intended     
merely as a relief to a bareness which1 
on account of the generous height1 would
 otherwise exist4  ,in the choir1 the   
triforium1 which is omitted in the nave1

 springs into being in beautiful and    
ornate form4 ,the lower arches1 with the
 supports1 the attributed work of an    
,english architect1 are of the usual    
,gothic form1 in contra-distinction to  
the rounded heads of those of the nave4 
,the clerestory1 though delicate and    
graceful1 is somewhat curtailed from the
 dimensions of that of the west end of  
the church4  ,the transepts are         
unusually bright and cheerful1 with a   
series of windows more beautifully      
designed than those of either the choir 
or nave4 ,the choir stalls are of oak1  
carved in the best manner of the        
,renaissance4  ,the charming tower group
 of this cathedral is as effective1     
perhaps1 as any among all the northern  
churches4 ,the central belfry1 albeit of
 a base1 though pretentious1 rococo     
design1 follows no accepted style1 but  
adds imposingly to the general outline4 
7,its height is over three hundred      
feet47 ,in this tower1 as in the window 
tracery1 the fleur-de-lys1 always a sign

 of the decadent in ,gothic style1 is to
 be seen4 ,the western towers1 with     
their spires1 follow the truest         
pyramidal form1 and1 though carrying    
both pointed and round-arched openings1 
are in every way representative of the  
best work of their period4 ,the         
northwesterly tower has an elongated    
turret1 extending from the lower ranges1
 which1 when seen from a distance over  
the roof of the nave1 appears as a      
protuberance not unlike a dove-cote4    
,this contains the spiral staircase up  
which visitors are earnestly implored1  
by the caretaker1 to wend their way and 
participate in the view from the heights
 above4 ,this view1 though undeniably   
wider in range than are most elevated   
view-points1 is hardly of interest to   
one who seeks the beauties of the       
structure itself4 ,there are three      
porches on the west faade1 all fairly   
well filled with foliaged ornament and  
bas-reliefs4 ,they are of the thirteenth
 century1 and of a thoroughly florid    

order4  ,included in the tresor are two 
gifts from ,st4 ,louis1 the chasuble of 
,st4 ,regnobert1 and an ivory and enamel
 casket4     ,illustration3 ,,cathedral 
of ,,notre ,,dame ,,saint ,,lo  ,,vii   
,,notre ,,dame ,,de ,,st4 ,,lo   ,this  
picturesquely situated city of the      
,cotentin1 ,st4 ,lo1 is so named from   
the ,bishop ,st4 ,laud1 who lived in the
 neighbourhood in the sixth century4    
,later1 it became a ,huguenot           
stronghold1 and was ably1 though        
unsuccessfully1 defended by ,colombiers4
 ,it forms1 with its former ,cathedral  
of ,notre ,dame crowning its height1    
another of those ensembles which will   
always linger in the memory of the      
traveller who first comes upon it clad  
in spring and summer verdure4 ,the      
rippling ,vire at its very feet gives at
 once the note2 it not only binds and   
enwraps it like the setting of a        
precious stone1 but adds that one       
feature which1 lacking1 would be a chord
 misplaced4 ,perhaps no other cathedral 

in all ,france1 with regard to its bijou
 setting1 certainly no other so         
accessible to the ,english tourist1 has 
more dainty charm than this not very    
grand1 but graceful1 church at ,st4 ,lo4
 ,its towers1 though not uniform as to  
size1 are of apparently the same gradual
 proportions1 and1 if not the most      
impressive1 are at least the most       
beautiful in ,normandy4 ,they rise high 
above the wooded crest which encircles  
their base in true picture-book fashion4
 ,the attraction of the river1 here1 is 
unusual1 in that it presents no         
accustomed slummy picturesqueness1 but  
winds slowly1 amid its green1 to the    
very base of the cliff which upholds the
 chief portion of the town and its      
cathedral4  ,the faade presents a mlange
 of the work of at least three epochs1 a
 not unusual feature in some of the     
smaller cathedrals4 ,it has a mean      
little house built into its northwest   
corner1 a crude and ugly clock-face     
stuck unmeaningly on its faade1 and a   

general air of dilapidation1 with       
respect to the statues originally       
contained in its archivolts and niches1 
which1 to say the least1 is not         
creditable to those who have been       
responsible for its care4 ,it would seem
 that so lively and important a centre  
of local activity might have devoted a  
little more thought and care to the     
maintenance of this charming building4  
,built up from a foundation of which but
 little1 if any portion1 visibly        
remains1 ,notre ,dame shows a debasement
 of design and decoration of its faade  
which is not only not admirable1 but is1
 in addition1 sadly disfigured4 ,the one
 detail1 for the most part good in      
style1 is a not unduly florid arcade1   
which plainly indicates its superiority 
over the rest of the building4  ,on the 
north side is an open-air pulpit of     
stone overhung with a canopy1 a highly  
interesting detail1 though1 of course1  
not a unique one4 ,unable to command    
admiration as an absolute novelty1 it is

 assuredly a charming feature1 and is   
delicately and profusely sculptured4 ,it
 suggests much in conjunction with the  
busy life of the rather squalid         
neighbouring market-place1 whose only   
picturesque attribute is when it is     
crowded with the gaiety of a market or a
 fte day4 ,by far the most compelling   
interest in the building1 after an      
inspection of its interior1 is the view 
to be had from a distance4  ,the nave is
 late ,gothic1 and widens out in curious
 fashion toward the east2 otherwise the 
interior arrangements are not           
remarkable4 ,one bulbous chapel on the  
south side supplants the usual transept4
  ,there is no triforium either in choir
 or nave1 the lighting principally being
 effected by the large windows of the   
aisles4  ,it is pertinent to recall here
 that one of ,charlemagne's own         
foundations of the ninth century1       
destroyed by the barbarians1 was        
situated near by1 the famous ,abbey of  
,st4 ,croix4     ,illustration3 ,notre  

,dame de ,coutances  ,,viii  ,,notre    
,,dame ,,de ,,coutances   ,like many    
another town of western ,normandy1 like 
,falise1 ,domfront1 ,st4 ,lo1           
,granville1 ,avranches1 and ,mont ,st4  
,michel itself1 ,coutances rises high   
above the surrounding plain and stands  
dominant in the landscape for miles on  
either hand4 ,of perhaps more magnitude1
 as to area1 than any of the other      
examples1 the city has the added        
attribute of three towered              
ecclesiastical edifices1 which rise     
nobly in varying stages far over the    
neighbouring roof-tops of the town      
itself and the tree-clad slopes which   
embank it4  ,the oldest of the ,norman  
,gothic cathedrals1 and that which      
partakes the most of local character1 is
 ,notre ,dame de ,coutances4 ,certain   
,french archologists have said that the 
main body of the church is actually that
 of the eleventh century4 ,it is more   
likely1 however1 that none of the       
building at present in view is earlier  

than the thirteenth century1 the epoch  
during which contemporaneous ,gothic    
first grew to its maturity4 ,in any     
event1 such building and construction   
was going on from #abjh to #abcc as     
would indicate that it was the entire   
present edifice which was being planned 
at that time4 ,in this case it is quite 
possible that the rebuilding was going  
on slowly1 foot by foot1 in a manner    
which not only encompassed and absorbed 
the older building1 but in reality      
eradicated every vestige of it4 ,says a 
,french writer of enthusiasm1 ,the      
,cathedral of ,coutances1 as it now     
stands1 is one of the most noble and    
grand religious edifices in ,france1    
with all the qualities of a monument of 
the first order1 of perfect dimension1  
beauty of plan1 unity of workmanship1   
and distinction of form4 ,any one of    
these attributes1 were it literally so1 
might well turn a commonplace structure 
into an unapproachable masterpiece4 ,in 
a measure1 all of his eulogy is quite   

true1 and the pity is that more do not  
know of its fascination and charm4  ,the
 faade of the ,cathedral of ,notre ,dame
 is of the indigenous ,norman-,gothic   
type4 ,the fine towers1 in addition to  
combining the symmetrical elements of   
,gothic1 have1 each1 as well1 a flanking
 towerlet1 attached to their outer      
sides1 enclosing a spiral stairway4     
,these extend to quite the full height  
of the tower proper2 and1 though by no  
means a wholly attractive feature1 are  
not as offensive as might at first be   
supposed4 ,it is doubtful1 in fact1 if  
the general strength and impressiveness 
of the entire structure would not be    
impaired were the arrangements          
otherwise4  ,the present ogival         
structure is built on the remains of a  
,romanesque church erected by a famous  
,bishop of ,coutances1 ,geoffroy de     
,montbray1 with funds supplied by       
,guillaume ,bras-de-,fer1 ,odon1 ,roger1
 ,onfroy1 and ,robert1 sons of          
,tancrede-de-,hauteville1 the ,norman   

conquerors of ,sicily and ,calabria1    
whose names have been given fabled      
prominence in more than one epic poem4  
,the early structure was consecrated in 
#ajef1 in the presence of ,william1 then
 ,duke of ,normandy1 a few years before 
he became the ,conqueror4 ,supposedly   
none of this former church remains2 in  
fact1 what fragments1 if any1 exist1 are
 doubtless covered in the present       
foundations4  ,mainly1 the present      
structure is thirteenth-century work1   
with a lady-chapel of the fourteenth    
century4  ,an unusual1 and exceedingly  
beautiful1 effect is given by the       
,gothic window mullions1 between the    
chapels1 in reality a series of         
geometrical window-frames1 without      
glass4 ,no florid ornament either inside
 or out is to be found to offend against
 accepted ideals4 ,in short1 the whole  
is of a piece complete4 ,the parapets of
 triforium and clerestory1 with foliaged
 carvings1 are about the only ornate    
decorations to be seen4  ,the central   

tower1 of great proportions1 but        
incomplete as to the addition of a      
spire1 is a marvel of strength and      
power4 ,its interior1 elaborately       
decorated1 forms a lantern at the       
crossing4 ,here1 as at ,bayeux1 the     
choir is raised a few steps above its   
aisles1 giving a certain impressiveness 
beyond what might otherwise exist4  ,the
 interior1 generally1 is admirable4     
,clustered columns1 as they are commonly
 called1--in reality they are clustered 
pillars1 if word derivations are to be  
considered1--separate both nave and     
choir from the aisles2 and1 in case of  
the choir1 a series of elongated        
circular pillars are coupled1 one behind
 the other1 an unquestionably unique    
arrangement4  ,the transepts are        
practically non-existent1 as the        
widening does not extend beyond the     
extent of the nave chapels4 ,this leaves
 the ground-plan1 at least1 a mere      
parallelogram with a rounded eastern    
end4  ,notre ,dame de ,coutances is one 

of the few really great ,gothic churches
 not possessing an example of those     
,french masterworks1 the rose window4   
,again referring to the fine tower      
group1 it is probably true that1 were   
the huge central tower properly spired1 
the ensemble would rival ,laon in regard
 to its impressive situation and        
elaborate pinnacles4  ,st4 ,pierre1 of  
the fifteenth century1 and ,st4         
,nicolas1 of the fourteenth1 complete   
the trinity of fine churches which      
,coutances possesses4 ,the latter       
contains the unusual arrangement in a   
,continental church of pews in place of 
chairs1 although formerly1 it is said1  
this feature was not uncommon in        
,normandy4  ,the somewhat considerable  
remains of a ,roman acqueduct1 near by1 
are sufficiently remarkable to warrant  
passing consideration1 even by the mere 
lover of churches4  ,illustration       
,,ix  ,,st4 ,,pierre ,d',,avranches     
,there is little to recount concerning  
the ,see of ,avranches4 ,its bishopric  

and its cathedral were alike destroyed  
during the parlous times of the         
bickerings and ravages of ,royalists and
 ,republicans of the ,revolutionary     
period4 ,all that remains to-day is a   
trifling heap of stones which would     
hardly fill a row-boat1--a fragment of a
 shaft on which is a tablet reading3    
,,on ,,this ,,stone1   ,,here ,,at ,,the
 ,,door ,,of ,,the ,,cathedral ,,of     
,,avranches1        ,,after ,,the       
,,murder ,,of ,,thomas  ,,becket1       
,,archbishop ,,of ,,canterbury1         
,,henry ,,ii41       ,,king ,,of        
,,england ,,and ,,duke ,,of ,,normandy1 
,,received ,,on ,,his ,,knees1          
,,from ,,the ,,legates ,,of ,,the       
,,pope1            ,,the ,,apostolic    
,,absolution1             ,,on ,,sunday1
 #bb;,d ,,may #aagb4  ,at its feet is   
another slab1 the aforementioned        
door-step1 on which1 before the papal   
legate1 the remorseful monarch did      
penance before his later expiation at   
,canterbury4  ,a little farther on is a 

small heap consisting of shafts and     
capitals of columns1 a stone sarcophagus
 and a brass plate stating that they are
 the ,derniers restes de la cathdrale   
d',avranches2 commence vers #ajij et    
consacre par l'eveque ,turgis en #aaba4 
,the nave having fallen in1 the rest of 
the edifice had to be taken down in     
#agii4  ,because of its picturesque     
environment and situation1 ,avranches is
 perhaps a more than ordinarily         
attractive setting for a shrine1 and it 
is well worthy of the attention of the  
passing traveller1 in spite of its      
ancient cathedral being now but a heap  
of stones4 ,apart from this it is of    
little interest1 and hence1 to most1 it 
will probably remain1 in the words of a 
,french traveller1 a mere silhouette in 
the distance4  ,illustration            
,illustration3 ,,cathedral of ,s4       
,,samson ,,dol  ,x  ,,st4 ,,samson1     
,,dol-,,de-,,bretagne   ,the one-time   
,cathedral of ,st4 ,samson1 at ,dol1 is1
 says an unusually expressive           

,frenchman1 a grand1 noble1 and severe  
church1 now widowed of its bishops4 ,its
 aspect is desolate and abandoned1 as if
 it were but a ruin en face sur la      
grande place1 of itself1 but a mere     
desert of scrub4 ,this is certainly a   
vivid and forceful description of even a
 wholly unprepossessing shrine4 ,this   
,st4 ,samson is not1 and due allowance  
should be made for verbal modelling     
which1 in many cases1 is but the mere   
expression of a mood pro tempo4 ,there  
is1 however1 somewhat of truth in the   
description4 ,about the granite walls   
there is a grimness and gauntness of    
decay2 of changed plans and projects2 of
 devastation2 of restoration2 and1      
finally1 of what is1 apparently1        
submission to the inevitableness of     
time4  ,the enormous northwesterly tower
 is stopped suddenly1 with the daylight 
creeping through its very framework4    
,its faade is certainly bare of         
ornament1 and gives a thorough          
illustration of paucity of design as    

well as of detail4 ,there is1 indeed1   
nothing in the west faade to compel     
admiration1 and yet there is a          
fascination about it that to some will  
be irresistible4  ,a sixteenth-century  
porch1 of suggested ,burgundian style1  
forms the main entrance to the church1  
and is situated midway along the south  
side4 ,almost directly opposite1 on the 
north1 is the curiously contrasting     
feature of a crenelated battlement1 a   
reminder of the time when the church was
 doubtless a temporal as well as a      
spiritual stronghold4  ,the interior1 as
 the exterior1 is gloomy and melancholy4
 ,one has only to contemplate the       
collection of ludicrously slender       
clustered columns of the nave1 bound    
together with markedly visible iron     
strands1 to realize the real weakness of
 the means by which the fabric has been 
kept alive4  ,the nave itself is of true
 proportions1 and1 regardless of the    
severity of its lines1 and the ludicrous
 pillars1 is undeniably fine in effect4 

,a curiously squared choir-end1 but with
 the small apsed lady-chapel extending  
beyond1 is another of those curious     
details which stand out in a way to be  
remarked in a ,french church4 ,in this  
squared end1 and above the arch made by 
the pillars of the choir aisle1 is a    
large pointed window filled with ancient
 glass which must have been inserted    
soon after the church was reconstructed 
after the fire in the twelfth century4  
,the general effect of the nave and     
aisles is one of extreme narrowness1    
which perhaps is not so much really the 
case when actual measurements are taken4
  ,in general1 the church is supposed by
 many to resemble the distinct type of  
,gothic as it is known across the       
,channel2 and1 admitting for the nonce  
that possibly many of the ,brittany     
structures were the work of ,english    
builders1 this church1 in the absence of
 any records as to who were its         
architects1 may well be counted as of   
that number4  ,the stalls of the choir  

are of delicately carved wood1 before   
which is placed a monumental bishop's   
throne1 with elaborate armorial         
embellishments4 ,a ,renaissance tomb of 
the sixteenth century1 by a pupil of    
,michel ,colomb1 now much injured in its
 sculptured details of angels and       
allegorical figures1 is locally         
considered the show-piece of the church4
     ,illustration3 ,s4 ,,malo  ,s4     
,,servan  ,illustration3 ,,tr,,guier    
,,xi  ,,st4 ,,malo ,,and ,,st4 ,,servan 
,welshmen throughout the world rejoice  
that it was one of their countrymen1 a  
monk of the sixth century1 who gave his 
name as founder to the walled city of   
,st4 ,malo by the sea4 ,with its        
outlying and contiguous towns of ,st4   
,servan1 ,dinan1 and ,param1 ,st4 ,malo 
is a paradise for the mere lover of     
pleasure resorts4 ,further1 with respect
 to the first three places mentioned1   
there is present not a little of the    
romance and history of the past1        
reflected as it were in a modern mirror4

 ,not but that the old town of ,st4     
,malo1 within the walls1 is ancient and 
picturesque enough1 and dirty1 too1 if  
one be speciously critical2 but the fact
 is that the modern ,pont ,roulant1 and 
the omnific toot of the steam-tram1 ever
 present in one's sight and hearing1 are
 forcible reminders of the march of     
time4  ,st4 ,servan1 so far as its      
cathedral is concerned1 may be dismissed
 in a word4 ,the ancient see of ,st4    
,pierre d',aleth had1 at one time1 its  
dignity vested in a bishop who enthroned
 himself in a cathedral1 the remains of 
which exist to-day only as a fragment   
built into the fortifications4 ,the     
bishopric was removed in #aadb to ,st4  
,malo4  ,with ,st4 ,malo a difference   
exists4 ,its cathedral1 now degenerated 
to a parish church1 is a ,gothic work   
mainly of the fifteenth century1 and1   
regardless of its unimposing qualities1 
is one of those fascinating old         
buildings which1 in its environment and 
surroundings1 appeals perhaps more      

largely to us as a component of a whole 
than as a feature to be admired by      
itself4 ,the church1 safely sheltered   
from the ravage of gale and storm1 sits 
amid narrow winding streets1 whose      
buildings are so compressed as to rise  
to heights unusual in the smaller       
,continental towns4  ,the edifice is    
mainly of the fifteenth century1 but has
 been variously renovated and restored4 
,gothic1 ,renaissance1 and the          
transition between the two are plainly  
discernible throughout4 ,perhaps the    
best art to be noted is that found in   
the interior of the choir1 with its fine
 triforium and clerestory windows above4
 ,here1 again1 is to be observed the    
squared east end of the ,english        
contemporary church1 a further reminder1
 if it be needed1 of the influences     
which were bound to be more or less     
exchanged with regard to the arts and   
customs of the time1 on both shores of  
,la ,manche4  ,a few features of passing
 interest are here1 an ivory crucifix1 a

 few tombs1 and some indifferent        
paintings4  ,the spire is modern1 but   
gives a suggestion1 at least1 in viewing
 the city from a distance1 of something 
of what a medival walled seaport1 with  
its population huddled close beneath the
 shadow of the church1 and within the   
city walls1 must have been like4 ,the   
best example of this which ever existed 
in medival ,france1 and which exists    
to-day in a more than ordinary          
remarkable state of preservation1 is the
 famous ,mount ,st4 ,michel1 a few miles
 only to the eastward1 and famed of all1
 historian1 ecclesiast1 artist1 and mere
 pleasure-seeker1 alike4 ,most writers  
are pleased to refer to the confiding   
attitude of mine host1 who conducts the 
principal hostelry on the ,mount1 and   
who guilelessly asks the wary traveller 
7ofttimes they are wary7 what he has    
partaken of during his stay1 and makes  
up the account accordingly4 ,this is1   
perhaps1 not the least of attributive   
charms1 though it should be a minor one 

where this wonderful and real ,mount1   
which takes its name from legendary ,st4
 ,michel1 is concerned4 ,indeed1 leaving
 the cathedrals at ,rouen1 ,chartres1   
and ,le ,mans out of the question1 it is
 doubtful if the ,abbey of ,mont ,st4   
,michel is not the chief remaining      
architectural glory of the middle ages1 
west of ,paris4  ,it is but a short     
distance from ,st4 ,malo to ,st4        
,servan1 but what a difference6 ,it is  
called by the ,french themselves the    
daughter of ,st4 ,malo1--the faubourg   
grown into a city4  ,rabida's ,bretagne 
states that there are nombreux des      
,anglais  ,st4 ,servan1 des jeunes gens 
vivant dans les pensions                
brittaniques--des familles venant l't   
faire en ,bretagne une cure d'economies 
pour l'hiver4 ,continuing1 this         
discerning author says3 ,bathers1       
bicyclists1 golfists1 promenaders1 and  
excursionists abound4 ,better then let  
them hold forth here to their hearts'   
content2 there is little that the lover 

of churches will gain from what remains 
to-day of the town's former ,cathedral  
of ,st4 ,pierre4     ,,xii  ,,tr,,guier 
,this old cathedral city1 at the        
junction of two small streamlets1 a     
short distance from the sea1 lies       
perhaps a dozen miles away from the     
nearest railway4 ,with ,st4 ,pol de     
,leon and ,st4 ,brieuc it is1 in local  
characteristics and customs alike1 a    
something apart from any other community
 in northern ,france4 ,the ,bretons are 
commonly accredited as being a most     
devout race1 and certainly devotion     
could take no more marked turn than the 
many evidences here to be seen in this  
land of ,calvaries4 ,st4 ,brieuc is a   
bishopric1 suffragan of ,rennes1 whose  
cathedral is a hideous modern structure 
of the early nineteenth century quite   
unworthy as a shrine2 but ,trguier's    
power waned with the ,revolution4 ,its  
fourteenth-century church1 however1 is  
sufficiently remarkable by reason of its
 situation and surroundings1 none the   

less than in its fabric1 to warrant a   
deviation from well-worn roads in order 
to visit it4 ,chiefly of a late period1 
it possesses in the ,tour de ,hasting1  
named after the ,danish pirate 7though  
why seems obscure71 which enfolds the   
north transept1 a work of the best      
eleventh-century class4 ,this should    
place the church1 at once1 within the   
scope of the designation of a transition
 type4 ,in this tower the windows and   
pilasters are of the characteristic     
round variety of the period4 ,the south 
porch is the most highly developed      
feature as to ,medival style1 but the   
attraction lies mainly in its ensembled 
massiveness1 with its two sturdy towers 
and a ridiculously spired south clocher4
 ,beyond a certain grimness of fabric   
the church fails1 not a little1 to      
impress one with even simple grandeur1  
even when one takes into consideration  
the charms of its florid but firmly     
designed cloister1 which1 with the      
church itself1 is classed by the        

,dpartement des ,beaux ,arts as one of  
the twenty-three hundred ,monumentes    
,historiques4 ,nevertheless1 the        
building proves more than ordinarily    
gratifying1 though by no stretch of the 
imagination could it be classed as      
grand4  ,loftiness and grandeur are     
equally lacking in the interior1 and    
there is great variation of style with  
respect to the pillars of nave and      
choir4 ,this is also the case with the  
windows1 which play the gamut from the  
severe round-headed ,romanesque to the  
latest flamboyant development1 a feature
 which not only disregards most         
conventions1 but1 as every one will     
admit1 most flagrantly offends1 with sad
 results1 against the general           
constructive elements4 ,a plain         
triforium1 in the nave1 blossoms out1 in
 the south transept and choir1 in no    
hesitating manner1 into exceeding       
richness4 ,the choir has an apsidal     
termination and contains carved wooden  
stalls which are classed as work of the 

mid-seventeenth century1 though         
appearing much more time-worn4  ,the    
really popular attribute of the church  
lies in the reconstructed monument to   
,st4 ,yves1 the patron saint of         
advocates1 and commonly considered the  
most popular in all the ,brittany       
calendar4  ,born near ,trguier in #abec1
 ,st4 ,yves' unheard-of probity and     
consideration for the sick and the poor 
gained such general respect that1 with  
his death on the nineteenth of ,may1    
#acjc1 there was inaugurated a great    
feast which to-day is yearly celebrated1
 and all grieving against a real or     
fancied wrong have recourse promptly to 
the supposedly just favour of this      
universal patron of the law4            
,illustration3 ,s4 ,,brieuc  ,,xiii     
,,st4 ,,brieuc   ,unlike many of the    
smaller towns which contain cathedral   
churches1 ,st4 ,brieuc is a present day 
bishopric2 hence the ,cathedral takes   
on1 perhaps1 more significance than it  
would1 were it but an example of a      

,medival church4  ,in reality it is not 
a very wonderful structure1 and the     
guide-books will tell one practically   
nothing about it4 ,the town itself is a 
dull place1 a tidal port1 at some little
 distance from the sea1 which flushes in
 upon it twice during the round of the  
clock4  ,a monastery was founded here in
 the fifth century by ,st4 ,brieuc1 from
 whom the town itself and the present   
cathedral take their name4 ,he was a    
,celtic monk from ,wales1 who1 upon     
being expelled from his native land1    
located his establishment here1 on the  
site of a former ,gallo-,roman town4    
,the patronal feast of ,st4 ,brieuc is  
held each year on the first of ,may and 
is a curious survival of a medival      
custom4  ,some remains of an early      
church are built into the choir walls1  
but in the main this not very grand     
edifice is of the thirteenth and        
fourteenth centuries4  ,the tower1 with 
its loopholes1 would supposedly indicate
 that the church was likewise intended  

as somewhat of a fortification4 ,the    
apse is rounded in the usual form1 and  
on either side extend transepts to the  
width of two bays4  ,within1 the        
,cathedral is more attractive than      
without4 ,the elements of construction  
and embellishment1 while perhaps not    
ranking with those of the really great  
churches1 are sufficiently vivid and    
lively to indicate that the work was    
consciously and enthusiastically        
undertaken4 ,the lady-chapel is of the  
thirteenth century1 and the transept    
rose is of the fifteenth1 as is also the
 ,chapel of ,st4 ,guillaume1 named for  
the monk of ,dijon who built so many of 
the monasteries throughout ,brittany and
 who1 it is to be presumed1 planned or  
built the original structure1 the       
remains of which are found in the       
present choir4  ,the windows throughout 
are either of not very good modern      
glass1 or of plain leaded lights1 which1
 in the majority of cases1 may be       
considered as no less an attraction4 ,an

 elaborate rose is in the western gable4
  ,there are1 in the church1 various    
monuments and tombs to former bishops4  
,,xiv  ,,st4 ,,pol ,,de ,,leon   ,in the
 midst of that land which furnishes the 
south of ,england with most of its      
cauliflowers1 artichokes1 onions1 and   
asparagus1 truly off the beaten track1  
in that it is actually off the line of  
railway1 is the strange and melancholy  
city of ,st4 ,pol de ,leon1 its clochers
 dominating1 by day at least1 both land 
and sea4 ,it contains the famous        
,kreisker1 a name which sounds as though
 it were ,dutch or ,north ,german1 which
 it probably is along with other place  
names on the near-by coast1 such as     
,grouin1 ,st4 ,vaast1 ,roscoff1 and ,la 
,hougue4  ,the tower and spire of this  
wonderful ,kreisker rise boldly1 from   
the transept crossing1 in remarkable    
fashion1 and as a marvel of construction
 may be said to far outrank the         
cathedral structure itself4 ,curious and
 clever well describes it4 ,as for the  

former cathedral over which the         
,kreisker throws its shadow1 it is one  
of those majestic twin-towered          
structures not usually associated with  
what1 when compared with the larger     
,french towns1 must perforce rank as a  
mere village4  ,there is much to be said
 in favour of these little-known near-by
 places1 namely1 that the charm of their
 attractions amply repays one for any   
special labour involved in getting to   
them1 with the additional advantage1    
regardless of the fact that a stranger  
appears somewhat to the native as a     
curiosity1 that they are good value for 
the money paid4 ,perhaps the cheapest   
,continental tour1 of say three weeks1  
that could be taken1 amid a constantly  
changing environment1 if one so choose1 
would comprehend this land of           
,calvaries4  ,the two cathedral towers  
of early ,gothic flank a generous porch4
 ,there is good glass throughout the    
church1 the circular rose of the        
transept being a magnificent composition

 in a granite framing4 ,the nave is of  
thirteenth-century ,gothic1 from the    
south aisle of which projects a large   
chapel dedicated to ,st4 ,michael4 ,the 
double-aisled choir is garnished with   
sculptured stalls of the fifteenth      
century1 and1 separated from its aisles 
by a stone screen1 is of much larger    
proportions than the nave1 and likewise 
of a later epoch of building4 ,the apse 
is flamboyant1 as are also the windows  
of the south transept4 ,in the chapels  
are various vaults and tombs1 remarkably
 well preserved1 but of no special      
moment4 ,in one of these chapels1       
however1 is a curious painting in the   
vaulting1 representing a ,trinity       
possessing three faces1 disposed in the 
form of a trefoil with three eyes only4 
,a ribbon or banderalle bears an        
inscription in ,gothic characters2 in   
the ,breton tongue1 ,ma ,donez 7,mon    
,dieu74     ,,xv  ,,st4 ,,corentin ,,de 
,,quimper   ,c'est ,quimper1 ce mlange  
du pass et du prsent4 ,a true enough    

description of most medival cities when 
viewed to-day2 but with no centre of    
habitation is it more true than of this 
city by the sea1--though in reality it  
is not by the sea1 but rather of it1    
with a port always calm and tranquil4   
,it takes rank with ,brest as the       
western outpost of modern ,france4  ,for
 centuries unconquered1 and possessing  
an individuality of its very own1 this  
now important prefecture has much to    
remind us of its past4 ,history1        
archology1 and mere antiquarian lore    
abound1 and1 in its grandiose ,cathedral
 of ,st4 ,corentin1 one finds a large   
subject for his appreciative            
consideration4  ,illustration3 ,,st4    
,,corentin de ,,quimper 444  ,it is of  
the robust and matured type that        
familiarity has come to regard as       
representative of a bishopric2 nothing  
is impoverished or curtailed4 ,its fine 
towers with modern spires1 erected from 
the proceeds of a butter tax1 are broad 
of base and delicately and truly        

proportioned4 ,its ground-plan is       
equally worthy1 though the choir is not 
truly orientated4 ,its general detail   
and ensemble1 one part with another1 is 
all that fancy has told us a great      
church should contain1 and one can but  
be prepared to appreciate it when it is 
endorsed1 and commented on1 by such     
ardent admirers as ,de ,caumont1        
,viollet-le-,duc1 ,corroyer1 and ,gons1 
those four accomplished ,frenchmen1 who 
probably knew more concerning ,medival  
7,gothic7 architecture than all the rest
 of the world put together4  ,from the  
thirteenth to the fifteenth century     
there grew up here a work embracing the 
ogival and the flamboyant1 neither in an
 undue proportion1 but as well as in any
 other single structure known4 ,this    
well shows the rise1 development1 and   
apogee of the style which we commonly   
call ,gothic1 but which the ,french     
prefer to call ogival1 and which should 
really1 if one is to fairly apportion   
credit where it is due1 be best known as

 ,french ,medival architecture4  ,its   
west faade1 with its generous lines1 is 
strongly original4 ,the two towers1     
pierced with enormously heightened      
lancets1 are indubitably graceful and   
impressive1 while a flanking pair of    
flying buttresses1 with their           
intermediate piers1 form an unusual     
arrangement in the west front of a      
,french cathedral4  ,above the western  
gable is a curiously graven effigy of   
,king ,grollo in stone4  ,considered as 
a whole1 the exterior is representative 
of the best contemporary features of the
 time1 but contains few if any which are
 so distinctly born of its environment  
as to be otherwise notable4  ,the       
interior vies with the outer portion of 
the fabric in the general effect of     
majesty and good design4 ,the triforium 
is remarkably beautiful and is          
overtopped by a range of clerestory     
windows which to an appreciable extent  
contain good early glass4 ,the easterly 
end is the usual semicircular apse4     

,among the relics of the ,cathedral is a
 crucifix which is supposed to emit     
drops of blood when one perjures himself
 before it4 ,it is1 perhaps1 significant
 that the people of ,finistre1 the      
department which claims ,quimper as its 
capital1 have the repute of being honest
 folk4  ,the ,bishops of ,quimper were1 
by virtue of the gift of le roi ,grodlon
 le ,grave1 the only seigneurs of the   
city during the middle ages4     ,,xvi  
,,vannes   ,vannes was the ancient      
capital of the ,celtic tribe of the     
,veneti1 its inhabitants being put to   
rout by ,csar in #eg ,b4 ,c4 ,afterward 
it became the ,roman town of            
,duriorigum1 and later reverted back to 
a corruption of its former name4        
,christianity having made some progress1
 a council was held1 and a bishop       
appointed to the city1 and from that    
time onward its position in the         
,christian world appears to have been   
assured4 ,for centuries afterward1      
however1 it was the centre of a         

maelstrom of internal strife1 in which  
,armoricans1 ,britons1 ,franks1 and     
,romans appear to have been inextricably
 involved4 ,then came the ,northmen1 who
 burned the former ,cathedral of ,st4   
,peter4 ,this was rebuilt in the        
eleventh century1 and in no small       
measure forms the foundation of the     
present structure1 which to-day is the  
seat of a bishop1 suffragan of ,rennes4 
,from this early architectural          
foundation1 to the most florid and      
flamboyant of late ,gothic1 is pretty   
much the whole range of ,medival        
architectural style4 ,by no means has a 
grand or even fine structure resulted4  
,the old choir1 suffering from the      
stress of time1 was pulled down and     
rebuilt as late as #aggj4 ,thus1 this   
usually excellently appointed and       
constructed detail is here of no worthy 
rank whatever4 ,the nave and transepts  
were completed within the hundred years 
following #adeb1 and show the last      
flights of ,gothic toward the heights   

from which it afterward fell4           
,transformation and restoration have    
frequently been undertaken1 with the    
result that nowhere is to be seen       
perhaps greater inconsistencies4 ,the   
latest of these examples of a perverted 
industry is seen in the                 
nineteenth-century additions to the     
tower and the west faade4 ,the result is
 not1 be it said1 to the credit of its  
projectors4   ,,the ,,end4              
,appendices     ,i  ,the ,architectural 
,divisions of ,france   ,it is quite    
possible to construct an ethnographic   
map of a country from its architectural 
remains1--but there must always be      
diverse and varying opinions as to the  
delimitation of one school1 as compared 
with another lying contiguous thereto4  
,one may wander from province to        
province1 and continually find          
reminders1 of another manner of         
building1 from that which is recognized 
as the characteristic local species4    
,this could hardly be otherwise4 ,in the

 past1 as in the present1 imitators were
 not few1 and if the adoption of new1 or
 foreign1 ideas was then less rapid1 it 
was no less sure4 ,still1 in the main1  
there is a cohesiveness and limitation  
of architectural style in ,france2      
which1 as is but natural to suppose1 is 
in no way more clearly defined than by  
the churches which were built during the
 middle ages1 the earliest types        
retaining the influence of massive      
forms1 and the later again debasing     
itself to a heavy classical order1      
neither a copy of anything of a         
pre-,gothic era1 or a happy development 
therefrom4 ,between the two1 in a period
 of scarcely more than three hundred    
years1 there grew up and developed the  
ingenious and graceful pointed style1 in
 all its fearlessness and unconvention4 
,political causes had1 perhaps1 somewhat
 to do with the confining of a          
particular style well within the land of
 its birth1 but on the other hand1      
warfare carried with it invasion and    

conquest of new sections1 and its       
followers1 in a measure1 may be said to 
have carried with them certain of their 
former arts1 accomplishments1 and       
desires2 and so grew up the composite   
and mixed types which are frequently met
 with4  ,there are a dozen or more      
architectural styles in what is known as
 the ,france of to-day4 ,the ,provenal  
7more properly1 says ,fergusson1 it     
should be called ,gallia ,narbonese17   
one of the most beautiful and clearly   
defined of all2 the ,burgundian1 with   
its suggestion of luxuriance and1 if not
 massiveness1 at least grandeur2 the    
,auvergnian1 lying contiguous to both   
the above1 with a style peculiarly its  
own1 though of an uncompromising        
southern aspect2 ,acquitanian1 defining 
the style which lies between ,provence1 
the ,auvergnat and the ,pyrnes1 and a   
type quite different from either4 ,the  
,angevinian1 which extends northward    
from ,limoges to ,normandy and          
,brittany1 and northeasterly nearly to  

,orleans1 is a species difficult to     
place--it partakes largely of southern  
influence1 but is usually thought to    
merit a nomenclature of its own1 as     
distinct from the type found at ,anjou4 
,turning now to the northern or         
,frankish influence1 as distinct from   
the ,romance countries2 ,brittany joins 
to no slight degree influences of each  
region2 ,normandy partakes largely of   
the characteristics of the type of      
,central ,france1 which is thoroughly   
dominated by that indigenous to the     
,isle of ,france1 which species properly
 might include the ,bourbonnais and     
,nivernoise variants1 as being something
 of a distinct type1 though resembling1 
in occasional details1 southern         
features4 ,this list1 with the addition 
of ,french ,flanders1 with its ,lowland 
types1 completes the arrangement1 if we 
except ,alsace and ,lorraine1 which     
favour the ,german manner of building   
rather more than any of the native      
,french types4     ,,ii  ,a ,list of the

 ,departments of ,france1 and of the    
,ancient ,provinces from which they have
 been evolved4   ,provinces and date of 
,dpartements       ,chefs-,lieux union  
with ,france  ,ile de ,france1 with ,la 
,seine                ,paris ,brie1 etc4
 ,always held         ,seine-et-,oise   
,versailles by the ,crown               
,seine-et-,marne       ,melun           
,oise                 ,beauvais         
,aisne                ,laon  ,picardie4 
,louis ,,xiv1 #affg      ,somme         
,amiens  ,artois and ,boulonnais4       
,pas-de-,calais        ,arras #afdj     
,flandre and ,hainault           ,nord  
,lille ,franais4 ,louis ,,xiv4          
#affg-affi  ,normandie4 ,philippe       
,seine-,infrieure     ,rouen ,auguste1  
#abjd                  ,eure            
,evreux                                 
,calvados             ,caen             
,orne                 ,alenon           
,manche               ,saint-,lo        
,bretagne4 ,franois ,i4                 
,ille-et-,vilaine      ,rennes #aecb    

,ctes-du-,nord        ,saint-,brieux    
,finisterre           ,quimper          
,morbihan             ,vannes           
,loire-,infrieure     ,nantes           
,orlanais4 ,louis ,,xii4                
,loiret               ,orleans #adih    
,loir-et-,cher         ,blois  ,beauce  
and ,pays ,chartrain                    
,eure-et-,loire        ,chartres        
,maine4 ,louis ,,xi4 #adha              
,sarthe               ,le ,mans         
,mayenne              ,laval  ,anjou4   
,louis ,,xi4 #adha                      
,maine-et-,loire       ,angers          
,touraine4 ,henri ,,iii4 #aehd          
,indre-et-,loire       ,tours  ,poitou4 
,charles ,,vi4 #adaf       ,vende       
,bourbon-,vende                         
,deux-,svres          ,niort            
,vienne               ,poitiers  ,berri4
 ,philippe ,i4 #aajj        ,indre      
,chteauroux                             
,cher                 ,bourges  ,marche4
 ,franois ,i4 #aeca       ,creuse       
,guret  ,limousin4 ,charles ,v4         

,haute-,vienne         ,limoges #acgj   
,corrze              ,tulle  ,angoumois4
 ,charles ,v4          ,charente        
,angoulme #acgj  ,saintonge and ,aunis4 
,charente-,infrieure  ,la ,rochelle     
#acgj  ,guienne and ,gascogne4          
,dordogne             ,prigueux         
,charles ,,vii4 #adea                   
,gironde              ,bordeaux         
,lot-et-,garonne       ,agen            
,lot                  ,cahors           
,tarn-et-,garonne      ,montauban       
,aveyron              ,rodez            
,gers                 ,auch             
,hautes-,pyrnes      ,tarbes            
,landes               ,mont-de-,marsan  
,barn and ,french ,navarre4             
,basses-,pyrnes      ,pau   ,louis      
,,xiii4  ,comt de ,foix4 ,louis ,,xiii4 
,arige               ,foix  ,roussillon4
 #afei               ,pyrnes-,orientales
  ,perpignan  ,languedoc4 ,john1 #acfa  
,haute-,garonne        ,toulouse        
,tarn                 ,albi             
,aude                 ,carcassonne      

,hrault              ,montpellier       
,gard                 ,nmes  ,vivarais  
,ardche              ,privas  ,gvaudan  
,lozre               ,mende  ,velay     
,haute-,loire          ,le ,puy  ,comtat
 ,venaissin1 ,orange1      ,vaucluse    
,avignon   etc4 ,louis ,,xiv4 #agac     
,provence4 ,louis ,,xi4 #adha           
,bouches-du-,rhne     ,marseille        
,var                  ,draguignan       
,basses-,alpes         ,digne  ,dauphin4
 ,philippe de          ,isre            
,grenoble   ,valois1 #acdc              
,drme                ,valence           
,hautes-,alpes         ,gap  ,lyonnais  
and ,beaujolais        ,rhne            
,lyon  ,forez                           
,loire                ,st4 ,etienne     
,auvergne4 ,philippe ,auguste1          
,puy-de-,dme          ,clermont #abaj   
,cantal               ,aurillac         
,bourbonnais4 ,louis ,,xii4             
,allier               ,moulins #aeje    
,nivernais4 ,charles ,,vii4             
,nivre               ,nevers #adeg      

,bresse1 ,bugey1 etc4            ,ain   
,bourg  ,bourgogne 7duch74 ,louis       
,sane-et-,loire       ,mcon ,,xi4 #adgg 
,cte-d',or            ,dijon            
,yonne                ,auxerre  ,comt de
 ,bourgogne1 or         ,doubs          
,besanon ,franche-,comt4 ,peace         
,jura                 ,lons-le-,saulnier
 of ,nimeguen1 #afgh                    
,haute-,sane          ,vesoul           
,champagne4 ,philippe le         ,aube  
,troyes4 ,bel1 #abhd                    
,marne                                  
,chalons-sur-,marne                     
,haute-,marne          ,chaumont        
,ardennes             ,mzires           
,lorraine499 ,on the death      ,meurthe
 and ,moselle  ,nancy of ,stanislas     
,leczinsky1        ,meuse               
,bar-le-,duc #agff                      
,vosges               ,epinal           
,alsace499 ,louis ,,xiv4 #afdh          
,territory of ,belfort ,belfort         
,haut-,rhin            ,colmar          
,corsica4 #agid4                 ,corse 

,ajaccio  ,comt de ,nice4 #ahfa         
,alpes ,maritimes      ,nice  ,savoy    
,savoie               ,chambry          
,haute-,savoie         ,annecy  99 ,the 
greater part of these provinces as they 
formerly stood were ceded to ,germany1  
,may #aj1 #ahga4     ,,iii  ,the ,church
 in ,france   ,la ,france ,catholique is
 to-day divided into eighty-four        
dioceses1 administered1 as to spiritual 
affairs1 by seventeen archbishops and   
sixty-seven bishops4 ,to each diocese is
 attached a seminary for the instruction
 of those who aspire to the priesthood4 
,each chief town of a canton has its    
cur1 each parish its desservant4        
,archbishops and ,bishops    ,dioceses  
,,paris                         ,seine  
,chartres                               
,eure-et-,loire    ,meaux               
,seine-et-,marne    ,orleans            
,loiret    ,blois                       
,loir-et-,cher    ,versailles           
,seine-et-,oise  ,,cambrai              
,nord    ,arras                         

,pas-de-,calais  ,,lyon-,,et-,,vienne   
,rhne1 ,loire    ,autun                 
,sane-et-,loire    ,langres             
,haute-,marne    ,dijon                 
,cte-d',or    ,sainte ,claude           
,jura    ,grenoble                      
,isre  ,,bourges                        
,cher-et-,indre    ,clermont            
,puy-de-,dme    ,limoges                
,haute-,vienne et ,creuse    ,le ,puy   
,haute-,loire    ,tulle                 
,corrze    ,saint ,flour                
,cantal  ,,albi                         
,tarn    ,rodez                         
,aveyron    ,cahors                     
,lot    ,meude                          
,lozre    ,perpignan                    
,pyrnes-,orientales  ,,bordeaux99       
,gironde    ,agen                       
,lot-et-,garonne    ,angoulme           
,charente    ,poitiers                  
,vienne-et-,deux ,svres    ,prigueux    
,dordogne    ,la ,rochelle              
,charente-,infrieure    ,luon           
,vende  ,,auch                          

,gers    ,aire                          
,landes    ,tarbes                      
,hautes-,pyrnes    ,bayonne             
,basses-,pyrnes  ,,toulouse-,,narbonne  
,haute-,garonne    ,montauban           
,tarn-et-,garonne    ,pamiers           
,arige    ,carcassonne                  
,aude  ,,rouen                          
,seine-,infrieure    ,bayeux            
,calvados    ,evreux                    
,eure    ,sez                           
,orne    ,coutances                     
,manche  ,,sens ,,et ,,auxerre          
,yonne    ,troyes                       
,aube    ,nevers                        
,nivre    ,moulins                      
,allier  ,,reims                        
,arr4 de ,reims-et-,ardennes            
,soissons                    ,aisne     
,chalons-sur-,marne           ,marne    
except ,arrond4 de ,reims    ,beauvais  
,oise    ,amiens                        
,somme  ,,tours                         
,indre-et-,loire    ,le ,mans           
,sarthe    ,angers                      

,maine-et-,loire    ,nantes             
,loire-,infrieure    ,laval             
,mayenne  ,,aix1 ,,arles1 ,,and ,,embrun
        ,bouches-du-,rhne except        
,marseilles    ,marseilles              
,arr4 de ,marseilles    ,frjus and      
,toulon           ,var    ,digne        
,basses-,alpes    ,gap                  
,hautes-,alpes    ,nice                 
,alpes-,maritimes    ,ajaccio           
,corse  ,,besan,,on                     
,doubs et ,haute-,sane    ,verdun       
,meuse    ,belley                       
,ain    ,st4 ,di                        
,vosges    ,nancy                       
,meurthe  ,,avignon                     
,vaucluse    ,nmes                      
,gard    ,valence                       
,drme    ,viviers                       
,ardche    ,montpellier                 
,hrault  ,,rennes                       
,ille-et-,vilaine    ,quimper           
,finisterre    ,vannes                  
,morbihan    ,st4 ,brieuc               
,ctes-du-,nord  ,,chamb,,ry    ,annecy  

,haute-,savoie    ,tarentaise           
,val-de-,tarentaise 7,savoie7           
,maurienne                              
,val-de-,maurienne 7,savoie7  99 ,the   
,archbishop of ,bordeaux has three      
suffragans outside ,france3 ,st4 ,denis 
and ,la ,reunion1 ,st4 ,pierre and ,fort
 de ,france 7,martinique71 ,basseterre  
7,guadaloupe74     ,,iv  ,a ,list of the
 ,larger ,french ,churches which were at
 one time ,cathedrals and usually       
referred to as such4   ,,note4--,those  
marked ,h4 ,m4 are classed as ,les      
,monuments ,historiques by ,la          
,commission de la ,conservation des     
,monuments ,historiques4  ,agde         
,hrault                             ,h4 
,m4  ,alais           ,garde  ,alenon   
,orne             ,notre ,dame          
,h4 ,m4  ,alet            ,aude         
,notre ,dame         ,h4 ,m4  ,apt      
,vaucluse                            ,h4
 ,m4  ,arles           ,bouches-du-,rhne
 ,st4 ,trophimus      ,h4 ,m4  ,arras   
,st4 ,vaast  ,auxerre         ,yonne    

,st4 ,etienne        ,h4 ,m4  ,auxonne  
,cte-d',or        ,notre ,dame          
,avranches       ,manche                
7remains only7     ,h4 ,m4  ,bazas      
,gironde          ,st4 ,jean            
,h4 ,m4  ,bethlem                       
7,there was once a ,bishop of           
,bethlem whose see was the              
village of ,clamecy only1 but           
no cathedral47  ,bziers         ,hrault 
,st4 ,nazaire        ,h4 ,m4  ,boulogne 
,pas-de-,calais    ,notre ,dame  ,bourg 
,ain              ,notre ,dame  ,brioud 
,haute-,loire                           
,h4 ,m4  ,cambrai                       
,notre ,dame  ,carcassonne     ,aude    
,st4 ,nazaire        ,h4 ,m4            
,carpentras      ,vaucluse         ,st4 
,siffrein       ,h4 ,m4  ,castres       
,tarn             ,st4 ,benonit         
,cavaillon       ,vaucluse         ,st4 
,vran          ,h4 ,m4  ,condom         
,gers                                ,h4
 ,m4  ,conserons       ,arige           
7,see ,st4 ,lizier7  ,die               

,drme                               ,h4 
,m4  ,dinan           ,ctes-du-,nord    
,st4 ,saveur         ,h4 ,m4  ,dol      
,ille-et-,vilaine  ,st4 ,samson         
,h4 ,m4  ,elne                          
,pyrnes-,orientales                 ,h4 
,m4  ,embrun          ,hautes-,alpes    
,h4 ,m4  ,glandves       ,basses-,alpes 
7,bishopric transferred                 
to ,entrevaux7  ,grasse                 
,alpes-,maritimes  7,bishopric in       
,x,i,vth                                
century7  ,laon            ,aisne       
,notre ,dame         ,h4 ,m4  ,lavaur   
,tarn             7,bishopric in        
,x,i,vth                                
century7  ,lectours        ,gers        
7,bishopric in ,xth century7  ,lescar   
,basses-,pyrnes                     ,h4 
,m4  ,lisieux         ,calvados         
,st4 ,pierre  ,lodeve          ,hrault  
,st4 ,fulcran        ,h4 ,m4  ,lombez   
,gers                                ,h4
 ,m4  ,mcon           ,sane-et-,loire   
,st4 ,vincent        ,h4 ,m4  ,mallezais

       ,vende  ,mirepoix        ,arige  
7,bishopric in ,x,i,vth                 
century7  ,noyon           ,oise        
,notre ,dame         ,h4 ,m4  ,oloron   
,basses-,pyrnes                     ,h4 
,m4  ,orange          ,vaucluse         
,notre ,dame  ,prigueux       ,dordogne 
,st4 ,etienne  ,st4 ,bertrand           
,haute-,garonne                         
,h4 ,m4 de ,comminges  ,st4 ,di         
,vosges  ,st4 ,lizier      ,arige       
,h4 ,m4  ,st4 ,lo          ,manche      
,notre ,dame          ,h4 ,m4  ,st4     
,malo        ,ille-et-,vilaine  ,ste4   
,marie      ,basses-,pyrnes  ,st4 ,omer 
,pas-de-,calais   ,notre ,dame          
,h4 ,m4  ,st4 ,papoul      ,aude        
,h4 ,m4  ,st4 ,paul ,trois  ,drme       
,h4 ,m4 ,chateaux  ,st4 ,pol de ,leon   
,finisterre                          ,h4
 ,m4  ,st4 ,servan                      
,ille-et-,vilaine  ,st4 ,pierre d',aleth
  ,sarlat          ,dordogne            
,h4 ,m4  ,sez            ,orne          
,notre ,dame         ,h4 ,m4  ,senez    

,basses-,alpes                          
,h4 ,m4  ,senlis          ,oise         
,notre ,dame         ,h4 ,m4  ,sisteron 
,basses-,alpes  ,soissons        ,aisne 
,notre ,dame         ,h4 ,m4            
,st4 ,gervais                           
,st4 ,protais  ,tarbes                  
,hautes-,pyrnes  ,eglise de la ,sde  ,h4
 ,m4  ,toul            ,meurthe         
,st4 ,etienne        ,h4 ,m4  ,toulon   
,var              ,ste4 ,marie-,majeur  
,trguier        ,ctes-du-,nord          
,h4 ,m4  ,uzs            ,gard          
,st4 ,thierry  ,vabres          ,aveyron
  ,vaiso           ,vaucluse            
,h4 ,m4  ,versailles                    
,seine-et-,oise    ,st4 ,louis  ,vence  
,alpes-,maritimes                       
,h4 ,m4  ,vienne          ,isre         
,st4 ,maurice        ,h4 ,m4     ,v     
,chronology of the chief styles and     
examples of church building in the north
 of ,france from the ,romano-,byzantine 
period to that of the ,renaissance      
#ajej-ajge ,nevers    ,st4 ,etienne     

,distinct round-arch #ajge-aajj ,bayeux 
,notre ,dame                style       
,caen      ,st4 ,etienne  #aabe-aaej    
,autun     ,st4 ,lazare                 
,pointed arch in           ,st4 ,denis  
7choir7                   vaulting and  
#aaej-aage ,angers    ,st4 ,maurice     
larger works1 with           ,paris     
,notre ,dame                the         
retaining of           ,sens      ,st4  
,etienne               the round in the 
smaller  #abjj-abbe ,reims     ,notre   
,dame                ,general adoption  
,auxerre   ,st4 ,etienne                
of the ogival           ,troyes    ,sts4
 ,peter and ,paul       style           
#abbe-abej ,amiens    ,notre ,dame      
,the completed           ,dijon     ,st4
 ,bnigne               ogival style     
,bourges   ,st4 ,etienne #abej-abge     
,noyon     ,notre ,dame 7cloisters7     
#acjj-acbe ,rouen     ,notre ,dame      
7lady-chapel7 #acej-acge ,chartres      
,notre ,dame  #adbe-adej ,auxerre   ,st4
 ,etienne 7,n4 transept7 ,introduction  

of                                      
,renaissance detail #adej-adge ,evreux  
,notre ,dame 7transepts     in ,italy   
and                     and tower7      
elaboration of                          
,gothic in ,france  #adge-aejj ,rouen   
,notre ,dame 7,s4 ,w4                   
,renaissance firmly                     
tower7                    grafted in    
,italy           ,nevers    ,st4        
,etienne 7,s4 porch7    and gradually   
#aejj-aebe ,beauvais  ,st4 ,pierre 7,s4 
transept7  appearing in the             
,chartres  ,notre ,dame 7,n4 ,w4        
,gothic of ,france                      
spire7  #aebe-aeej ,beauvais  ,st4      
,pierre 7,n4 transept7           ,amiens
    ,notre ,dame 7flche7  #aeej-aege    
,beauvais  ,st4 ,pierre 7central tower  
,renaissance firmly                     
since destroyed7          established   
#afjj-afbe ,orleans   ,ste4 ,croix      
,,vi  ,dimensions and ,chronology       
,,notre ,,dame ,d',,amiens              
,illustration3 ,notre ,dame d',amiens   

,dimensions  ,length of nave and choir1 
#dfi feet  ,width including transepts1  
#bad feet  ,width of nave1 #ei feet     
,width of aisles1 #cc-a_/b feet  ,height
 of nave1 #ada or #adg feet1 estimated  
variously  ,height of aisles1 #fe feet  
,length of choir1 #ace feet  ,width of  
nave including aisles1 #aej feet        
,length of transepts1 #aid feet  ,width 
of transepts1 #cf feet1 #f inches       
,height of spire1 #dbb feet             
,superficial area1 #gj1jjj square feet  
7approx47  ,chronology  ,nave and choir1
 #abbj-abhh  ,choir stalls1 #aebj       
,western towers completed1 #aecc        
,lateral chapels of nave1 ,x,v,ith      
century  ,choir chapels1 ,x,i,i,ith     
century   ,,st4 ,,maurice ,d',,angers   
,illustration  ,dimensions  ,length of  
nave and choir1 #cjj feet  ,width of    
transepts1 #dj feet  ,height of         
transepts1 #hj feet  ,height of nave1   
#aaj feet  ,width of nave1 #ec feet     
,height of spires1 #bbe feet            
,chronology  ,lower walls1              

,romano-,byzantine  ,main body          
completed1 #abdj  ,choir1 ,x,i,ith      
century  ,bishop's ,palace1 ,x,i,ith    
century  ,arras tapestries1 ,x,i,vth    
century  ,choir doorway1 ,x,i,i,ith     
century  7,recently restored by         
,viollet-le-,duc7   ,,st4 ,,vaast       
,d',,arras  ,dimensions  ,length of nave
 and choir1 #cjb feet  ,height of nave1 
#ff-a_/b feet  ,width of nave1 #di feet 
,height of tower1 #aed feet  ,chronology
  ,former ,cathedral of ,notre ,dame    
begun1 end of ,x,i,ith century  ,former 
,cathedral of ,notre ,dame completed1   
#adii  ,present ,cathedral of ,st4      
,vaast1 #agee-ahcc  ,triptych of        
,bellegambe in present ,cathedral1 #aebh
  ,former ,abbey of ,st4 ,vaast1 now    
,episcopal ,palace since #aged   ,,st4  
,,lazare ,d',,autun  ,dimensions        
,height of spire1 #cbe feet  ,chronology
  ,transition portion constructed by    
,robert ,i41 ,duke of ,burgundy1        
#ajca-ajgf  ,spire1 ,x,vth century      
,sculpture of choir1 ,x,v,ith century   

,flamboyant chapels1 ,x,v,ith century   
,,auxerre  ,chronology  ,crypt 7remains 
of early work71 ,x,ith century  ,choir  
and glass1 #abae-abcd  ,western portals1
 ,x,i,i,ith century  ,nave1 #accd-acgc  
,north transept1 #adae-aeac  ,n4 ,w4    
tower1 #aebe-aecj  ,iron grille of      
choir1 ,x,v,i,i,ith century   ,,notre   
,,dame ,,de ,,bayeux  ,dimensions       
,central belfry1 #cjj feet  ,length     
interior1 #cce feet  ,height interior1  
#gd feet1 #i inches  ,height of western 
towers1 #beb feet  ,chronology  ,odo's  
crypt1 ,x,ith century  ,circular arches 
of nave1 late ,x,ith or early ,x,i,ith  
century  ,portals of west faade1        
,x,i,i,ith century  ,chasuble of ,st4   
,regnobert1 gift of ,st4 ,louis1 #abbf  
,date of tapestry 7in inventory of      
church property71 #adgf   ,,st4 ,,pierre
 ,,de ,,beauvais  ,dimensions  ,height  
of nave1 #aej feet  ,height of original 
spire1 which fell in #aegc1 #dhf feet   
,area of choir1 about #bh1jjj square    
feet  ,chronology  ,the ,basse ,o,euvre1

 ,v,ith to ,v,i,i,ith centuries         
,present building begun1 #abbe          
,dedicated1 #abgb  ,roof fell1 #abhd    
,south transept begun1 #aejj  ,north    
transept begun1 #aecj  ,north transept  
finished1 #aecg  ,central spire fell1   
#aegc  ,ancient ,bishop's ,palace1 now  
,palais de ,justice1 ,x,i,vth to        
,x,v,ith centuries   ,,st4 ,,etienne    
,,de ,,bourges  ,illustration3 ,st4     
,etienne de ,bourges  ,dimensions       
,length1 #dje feet  ,width1 #ace-a_/b   
feet  ,height of nave1 #abd-a_/b feet   
,height of inner aisle1 #ff feet        
,height of outer aisle1 #bh feet        
,height north tower1 #bag-a_/b feet     
,height south tower1 #agf feet          
,superficial area1 #gc1agj square feet  
7approx47  ,chronology  ,dedicated1     
#acbd  ,sepulchre1 #accf  ,crypts1      
,x,i,ith century  ,north tower1         
#aejh-aech  ,tower ,st4 ,etienne        
completed1 #adij  ,tower ,st4 ,etienne  
fell1 #aejf  ,choir stalls1 #agfj       
,,st4 ,,etienne ,,de                    

,,ch,,lons-,,sur-,,marne  ,chronology   
,tower next north door1                 
,romano-,byzantine  ,part of nave and   
choir1 ,ogival primaire  ,aisle and     
chapels of apse1 ,x,i,vth century  ,apse
 restored1 after fire1 in #afgb         
,,notre ,,dame ,,de ,,chartres          
,dimensions  ,length nave and choir1    
#dcj feet  ,width1 #aaj feet  ,length   
nave only1 #aba feet  ,width nave1 #df  
feet  ,width nave aisles1 #ai feet      
,height nave1 #ajf feet  ,length        
transepts1 #bjb feet  ,width transepts1 
#gj feet  ,height of north spire1 #djc  
feet  ,height of south spire1 #cfe feet 
,rose window1 diameter1 #dj to #dc feet 
,area1 #fe1jjj square feet 7approx47    
,chronology  ,wooden church burned1     
#ajbj  ,crypt under chevet of choir1    
#ajbi 7only remains of original church7 
,work of rebuilding stopped1 #ajdh      
,south portal erected1 #ajfj  ,work     
aided by ,matilda1 queen of ,william    
,i41 #ajhc  ,lower portion of main body 
built1 #aajj-aaej  ,western towers1     

#aade  ,fire damaged greater part1 #aaid
  ,vaulting completed1 #abbj  ,porches  
of transepts added1 #abej  ,building    
consecrated1 ,october #ag1 #abfj        
,sacristy and screen in crypt1          
,x,i,i,ith century  ,north spire burned1
 #aejf  ,texier's spire erected1        
#aejg-aeae  ,texier's spire repaired1   
#afbi  ,south spire repaired1 #aged     
,belfry and roof burned 7vaulting       
unharmed71 #ahcf   ,,notre ,,dame       
,d',,evreux  ,dimensions  ,length1 #cfh 
feet1 #f inches  ,transept1 length1 #aab
 feet  ,transept1 width1 #bc feet       
,chronology  ,church consecrated1 #ajgf 
,church burnt1 #aaai  ,northwest tower  
foundations laid1 #aceb  ,northwest     
tower completed1 #adag  ,north transept1
 ,x,v,ith century  ,nave1 early ,x,i,ith
 to late ,x,vth century  ,choir1        
,x,i,vth century  ,lady-chapel1         
,x,i,i,ith century   ,,notre ,,dame ,,de
 ,,laon  ,illustration3 ,laon           
,dimensions  ,length of nave and choir1 
#cea feet  ,height of nave1 #hj feet    

,width of nave1 #fg feet1 #g inches     
,length of transepts1 #agd feet  ,width 
of transepts1 #ce feet1 #i inches       
,height of western towers1 #agc feet    
,height of southwest tower and spire    
7formerly71 #cbh feet  ,western circular
 window1 #bf feet  ,superficial area1   
#dd1jjj square feet 7approx47           
,chronology  ,original church burned1   
#aaab  ,new edifice begun1 #aaad        
,entirely rebuilt1 #aaij  ,general      
restoration1 #ahea   ,,st4 ,,julien1    
,,le ,,mans  ,illustration3 ,,le ,,mans 
,dimensions  ,length of nave and choir1 
#cfi feet  ,width of nave and aisles1   
#gh feet  ,width of choir1 #abc feet    
,height of choir1 #ajh feet  ,area of   
choir1 #cj1jjj square feet 7approx47    
,length of transept1 #agh feet  ,width  
of transept1 #cb feet  ,chronology      
,west faade1 ,x,ith century             
,transition1 south portal1 ,x,i,ith     
century  ,nave and transepts            
reconstructed1 ,x,i,ith century  ,church
 extended beyond city walls1 ,x,i,i,ith 

century  ,choir rebuilt1 #abjj  ,choir  
restored1 #aheh  ,coloured glass1       
,x,i,i,ith1 ,x,i,vth1 ,x,vth centuries  
,rose window1 south transept1 ,x,vth    
century  ,former ,bishop's ,palace      
destroyed by ,germans1 #ahga   ,,st4    
,,etienne ,,de ,,meaux  ,dimensions     
,height of nave1 #aji feet  ,length of  
nave1 #bge feet  ,length of transepts1  
#abj feet  ,chronology  ,bishopric      
founded1 #cge ,a4,d4  ,choir in part1   
,x,i,ith century  ,restored1 #aheb      
,,st4 ,,pierre ,,de ,,nantes            
,illustration  ,dimensions  ,height of  
western towers1 #bgj feet  ,height of   
nave1 #acj feet  ,chronology  ,remains  
of choir contains1 ,x,i,ith century     
,romanesque church rebuilt1 ,x,vth      
century  ,west front1 #adcd-aejj  ,north
 transept and choir only completed in   
,x,i,xth century  ,tomb of ,franois     
,,ii4 and ,marguerite de ,foix1 #aejg   
,later restoration1 #aheb   ,,notre     
,,dame ,,de ,,noyon  ,illustration3     
,noyon  ,dimensions  ,length1 #cch feet 

,width of nave and aisles1 #fd feet1 #aj
 inches  ,height of nave1 #gd feet1 #f  
inches  ,height of aisles1 #bh feet1 #i 
inches  ,height of choir1 #bf feet1 #c  
inches  ,height of towers1 #bjj feet    
,superficial area1 #cj1jjj square feet  
7approx47  ,chronology  ,first          
constructed1 #ihi  ,burnt1 #aaca        
,rebuilding undertaken1 #aacg-aaej      
,choir1 transepts1 and nave completed1  
#aafg-abjj  ,timber work burnt1 #abic   
,chapter-house built1 ,x,i,i,ith century
  ,five bays of cloister built1 ,x,i,vth
 century  ,restored under governmental  
supervision1 #ahdj   ,,st4 ,,croix      
,d',,orleans  ,dimensions  ,height of   
towers1 #bhj feet  ,height of nave1 #ajj
 feet  ,chronology  ,first bishops sent 
from ,rome1 ,i,i,ird century  ,cathedral
 destroyed by ,huguenots1 #aefg         
,chapels of nave which still remain1    
,x,i,vth century  ,late ,gothic mainly  
of ,x,v,i,ith century  ,western towers  
completed1 #aghi   ,,notre ,,dame ,,de  
,,paris  ,illustration3 ,paris          

,dimensions  ,length1 #cij feet  ,width1
 #add feet  ,height of nave1 #ajb feet  
,diameter of rose windows in transept1  
#cf feet  ,superficial area1 #fd1ajj    
square feet  ,chronology  ,founded by   
,bishop de ,sully1 #aafj-aagj  ,high    
altar dedicated1 #aahb  ,interior       
completed 7approx471 #abjh  ,west front1
 #abbc-abcj  ,western towers1 #abce     
,transept portals1 #abeg   ,,notre      
,,dame ,,de ,,reims  ,illustration3     
,reims  ,illustration3 ,flying          
,buttresses1 ,reims  ,dimensions        
,western towers1 #bfg feet  ,area1      
#fe1jjj feet 7approx47  ,chronology     
,first stone laid1 #abab  ,first portion
 dedicated1 #abae  ,chapter takes       
possession of choir1 #abdd  ,nave       
commenced1 #abej  ,transept and abside  
ornamented1 #abie  ,south tower begun   
and completed1 #achj-acia  ,coronation  
of ,charles ,,vii41 #adbg  ,southwest   
tower completed by ,philastre1 #adcj    
,tapestries added to choir1 #addd       
,belfry of the ,angel built1 #adig      

,gable of the ,assumption and ,zodiac1  
#adjh  ,restablishment of grand altar1  
#aedg  ,repairs to portals and vaulting1
 #afaj  ,cathedral becomes national     
property1 #agij  ,exterior repairs and  
restoration1 #ahaa  ,general            
restorations1 #ahdj  #b1jhc1daa francs  
voted by ,chamber for restorations1     
#ahge  ,gifts of ,gobelin tapestries1   
#ahdh   ,,notre ,,dame ,,de ,,rouen     
,illustration3 ,notre ,dame ,rouen      
,dimensions  ,length of nave and choir1 
#dej feet  ,width1 including transepts1 
#agg feet  ,width of nave and aisles1   
#aje feet  ,length of choir only1 #aah  
feet  ,height of nave1 #ib feet  ,height
 of central spire1 #dhj feet  ,height of
 ,tour de ,beurre1 #beb feet  ,height of
 ,tour ,st4 ,romain1 #bdf feet  ,area   
7originally71 #ec1jjj square feet       
,chronology  ,first church founded on   
site of cathedral by ,st4 ,mellar1      
,v,i,ith century  ,cathedral enlarged   
under ,rollo1 who was buried therein in 
#icj  ,consecrated and dedicated1 #ajfc 

,tour ,st4 ,romain1 remains of1 ,x,ith  
century  ,destroyed by fire1 #abjj  ,new
 building completed1 ,x,i,i,ith century 
,portail de la ,calende1 ,x,i,vth       
century  ,tour de ,beurre laid1 #adhg   
,tour de ,beurre completed1 #aejg       
,flamboyant west front1 ,x,v,ith century
  ,altar of ,st4 ,romain1 ,x,v,i,ith    
century  ,tomb of the ,cardinals1 #aeef 
,central spire1 #ahbc  ,restoration of  
west front1 #ahig   ,,st4 ,,etienne ,,de
 ,,sens  ,dimensions  ,length1 #chd feet
  ,width1 #abd feet  ,height1 #ih feet  
,area1 #dd1jjj square feet  ,chronology 
,relique of ,true ,cross given by       
,charlemagne1 #hjj ,a4 ,d4  ,early      
church destroyed by fire1 #igj  ,new    
church dedicated1 #iig  ,present        
building completed1 #aafh  ,choir       
rebuilt1 #aagd  ,present transept and   
nave1 ,x,i,ith and ,x,i,i,ith centuries 
,glass in chapel of ,st4 ,savinien1     
,x,i,i,ith century  ,glass of rose      
windows1 ,x,v,ith century  ,mausoleum of
 the ,dauphin1 ,x,v,i,i,ith century     

,,basilique ,,de ,,st4 ,,denis          
,dimensions  ,length of nave and choir1 
#ced feet  ,width1 #acc feet            
,clerestory windows 7height71 #cc feet  
,chronology  ,chapel first built above  
grave of ,st4 ,dionysius the martyr1    
#bge ,a4 ,d4  ,benedictine abbey first  
founded here in reign of ,dagobert1 #fbh
  ,pope ,stephen took refuge here1 #ged 
,romanesque faade1 #aadj  ,consecration 
of the building1 #aadd  ,nave1          
,x,i,i,ith century  ,abbot ,suger died1 
#aaea  ,general restoration by ,suger's 
successors1 ,x,i,i,ith century          
,crenelated battlement added to faade1  
,x,i,vth century  ,spire burned by      
lightning1 ,x,i,xth century  ,general   
restoration by ,viollet-le-,duc1 #ahfj  
,louis ,,xvi4 and ,marie ,antoinette    
reinterred here 7removed from the       
,madeleine71 #ahag  ,illustration3      
,,crypt ,s4 ,,denis  ,illustration3 ,s  
,,denis   ,,notre ,,dame ,,de ,,st4     
,,omer  ,dimensions  ,the great bell of 
tower weighs #h1ejj kilos4  ,chronology 

,bishopric founded1 #aecc  ,astronomical
 clock1 ,x,v,ith century  ,tomb of ,st4 
,erkembode1 ,v,i,i,ith century  ,tomb of
 ,st4 ,omer restored1 ,x,i,i,ith century
  ,former ,episcopal ,palace1 now       
,palais de ,justice1 #afhj   ,,st4      
,,gatien ,,de ,,tours  ,illustration    
,dimensions  ,length of nave and choir1 
#bef feet  ,width1 #ie feet  ,chronology
  ,choir begun1 #aagj  ,tour            
,charlemagne1 ,x,ith century  ,tour ,st4
 ,martin1 ,x,i,ith century  ,transepts1 
#acaf  ,west faade1 #adcj-aejj          
,southwest tower1 #aejg  ,tomb of       
children of ,charles ,,viii41 #adhc     
,,st4 ,,pierre ,,de ,,troyes            
,dimensions  ,length1 #cid feet  ,width1
 #afh feet  ,height1 #if feet  ,height  
northwest tower1 #bjb feet  ,chronology 
,apse and chapels1 #abjf-abbc  ,choir   
and transepts1 #acad-acae  ,iron grille 
of choir1 ,x,i,i,ith century  ,church   
consecrated1 #adcj  ,west faade1 ,x,vth 
century  ,nave constructed during       
,x,i,vth1 ,x,vth1 ,x,v,ith centuries    

,north gable1 ,x,vth century  ,tower    
,st4 ,pierre1 #aeei-aefh  ,northwest    
tower demolished by lightning1 #agjj    
,vaulting of transepts fell1 #ahdj      
,restoration of choir and transepts1    
#ahdj     ,,vii  ,the ,french ,kings    
from ,charlemagne ,onward               
,a4 ,d4  ,charlemagne                   
#gfh  ,louis le ,dbonnaire              
#had  ,charles le ,chauve               
#hdj  ,louis ,,ii41 le ,bgue            
#hgg  ,louis ,,iii4                     
#hgi  ,carloman                         
#hgi  ,charles le ,gros                 
#hhd  ,eudes                            
#hhg  ,charles ,,iii41 the ,simple      
#hic  ,robert ,i4                       
#ibb  ,rodolf of ,burgundy              
#ibc  ,louis ,,iv41 the ,stranger       
#icf  ,lothaire                         
#ied  ,louis ,v41 le ,fainant           
#ihf  ,hugh ,capet                      
#ihg  ,robert ,,ii41 the ,wise          
#iif  ,henry ,i4                        
#ajca  ,philip ,i41 l',amoureux         

#ajfj  ,louis ,,vi41 le ,gros           
#aajh  ,louis ,,vii41 le ,jeune         
#aacg  ,philip ,augustus                
#aahj  ,louis ,,viii41 the ,lion        
#abbc  ,louis ,,ix41 the ,saint         
#abbf  ,philip ,,iii41 the ,hardy       
#abgj  ,philip ,,iv41 the ,fair         
#abhe  ,louis ,x41 ,hutin               
#acad  ,john ,i4                        
#acaf  ,philip ,v4                      
#acaf  ,charles ,,iv41 le ,bel          
#acbb  ,philip ,,vi41 de ,valois        
#acbh  ,john ,,ii41 the ,good           
#acej  ,charles ,v41 le ,sage           
#acfd  ,charles ,,vi41 the ,beloved     
#achj  ,charles ,,vii41 the ,victorious 
#adbb  ,louis ,,xi4                     
#adfa  ,charles ,,viii4                 
#adhc  ,louis ,,xii41 of ,orleans       
#adih  ,francis ,i4                     
#aeae  ,henry ,,ii4                     
#aedg  ,francis ,,ii4                   
#aeei  ,charles ,,ix4                   
#aefj  ,henry ,,iii4                    
#aegd  ,henry ,,iv41 the ,great         

#aehi  ,louis ,,xiii41 the ,just        
#afaj  ,louis ,,xiv41 le ,grand         
#afdc  ,louis ,,xv4                     
#agae  ,louis ,,xvi4                    
#aggd  ,revolutionary ,tribunal         
#agic  ,directory                       
#agie  ,napoleon1 ,consul               
#agii  ,napoleon ,i41 ,emperor          
#ahjd  ,louis ,,xviii4                  
#ahad  ,charles ,x4                     
#ahbd  ,louis ,philippe                 
#ahcj  ,republic                        
#ahdh  ,napoleon ,,iii41 ,emperor       
#aheb  ,republic                        
#ahgj  ,illustration3 ,,charles ,,vii   
,,viii  ,measurements of the ,cathedrals
 at ,amiens and ,salisbury              
7,whittington7                          
,amiens       ,salisbury                
,french feet   ,english feet  ,length   
east to west                            
#dae                    #deb ,length    
west door to choir                      
#bbj                    #bdf ,length    
behind choir1 including lady-chapel     

#fc                     #fe ,length     
transepts north to south                
#ahb                    #baj ,width nave
                                        
#db4i                   #cd4e ,width    
transept                                
#db4i ,width side aisles                
#ah                     #ag4e ,width    
windows                                 
#da                     #dh ,width nave 
and side aisles                         
#gh4i                  #ajb ,width west 
front                              #aej 
#aae ,height vault1 nave                
#acb                     #hd ,height    
vault1 choir                            
#abi ,height west towers                
#baj ,height chapels                    
#fj ,height side aisles1 nave           
#fj4h ,height side aisles1 choir        
#eg4h                   #ch ,distance   
between pillars                         
#af ,height grand arches                
#gh                     #gh ,number of  
pillars                              #df

 ,number of chapels                     
#be ,length of choir                    
#acj                    #adj  7,the old 
,french foot is the equal of #a4jfegf   
,english feet47  ,the above comparative 
measurements are given as being of the  
contemporary types of ,english and      
,french cathedrals1 being nearly        
approximate to each other as to the date
 of their erection and measurements4    
,the figures themselves are transcribed 
from a little-known but thoroughly      
conscientious work by ,g4 ,d4           
,whittington1 entitled ,contributions to
 an ,ecclesiastical ,survey of ,france4 
,,ix  ,french ,metres ,reduced to       
,english ,feet   ,metres  ,english feet 
and  ,metres  ,english feet and  ,metres
  ,english feet and          decimal    
parts             decimal parts         
decimal parts    #a        #c4bha       
#bj         #fe4fah         #cjj        
#ihd4bgj    #b        #f4efb            
#cj         #ih4dbg         #djj        
#acab4cfj    #c        #i4hdc           

#dj        #aca4bcf         #ejj        
#afdj4dej    #d       #ac4abc           
#ej        #afd4jde         #fjj        
#aifh4eci    #e       #af4djd           
#fj        #aif4hed         #gjj        
#bbif4fbi    #f       #ai4fhe           
#gj        #bbi4ffc         #hjj        
#bfbd4gai    #g       #bb4iff           
#hj        #bfb4dgb         #ijj        
#bieb4hji    #h       #bf4bdg           
#ij        #bie4bha        #ajjj        
#cbhj4hii    #i       #bi4ebh           
#ajj        #cbh4jij   #aj       #cb4hji
          #bjj        #fef4ahj     ,x   
,a ,brief ,glossary of architectural    
terms1 with popular definitions1 as     
applied to the components which compose 
the principal features of a cathedral   
church   ,illustration3 ,,no4 #a4       
,,ground ,,plan  ,a ,lady-chapel        
,the principal chapel1 usually behind   
the                          high altar1
 at the extremity or eastern end        
of choir1 dedicated to ,our ,lady       
7,notre                          ,dame7 

,b ,transept               ,the middle  
portion of a church1 which projects     
at right angles with the main body      
of nave and choir  ,c ,porch            
,usually the vestibule or receding      
doorway  ,d ,lantern or crossing        
,where the transept crosses and joins   
choir                          and nave1
 usually with windows1 if a lantern     
proper  ,e ,choir                  ,that
 portion of the edifice in which are    
stalls for the choristers1 and chapter1 
also                          containing
 the ,matre d',autel  ,f ,ambulatory    
,the aisles or colonnade which surround 
the choir  ,g ,chapels                  
,literally a small place of worship     
containing                          an  
altar4 ,in a great church1 which        
may contain several1 they are usually   
dedicated to male and female saints  ,h 
,nave                   ,the main body  
of a church1 extending from             
the choir to the principal faade2 i4 e4 
that part between the outer aisles  ,i  

,aisles                 ,the lateral    
passage on either side of the           
nave and separated therefrom by piers   
or pillars  ,j ,portal                  
,literally1 the framework of a doorway  
,k ,abside                 ,the domed   
easterly end of a church  ,l ,sacristy  
,the apartment in which is kept the     
church                          plate   
and vestments  ,illustration3 ,,no4 #b4 
,,cross ,,section  ,a ,nave aisle       
vaulting    ,the arched roof of stone   
,b ,nave vaulting          ,the arched  
roof of stone  ,c ,flying buttress      
,a supporting outside prop of the thrust
                          variety4      
,notably a distinguishing feature       
of medival ,gothic architecture  ,d     
,side aisle             ,the passage    
which flanks the nave  ,e ,buttress pier
          ,the outer support of a flying
 buttress  ,f ,pinnacle                 
,on towers1 buttress piers1 gables1 etc4
  ,g ,gargoyle               ,a         
projecting water-spout carved           

grotesquely  ,h ,niche                  
,a recess in a wall1 or surmounting a   
pier2                          primarily
 to hold a statue  ,illustration3 ,,no4 
#c4 ,,interior  ,a ,clerestory          
,the upper range of windows of the nave2
                          rising above  
the adjoining portions  ,b ,triforium   
,literally1 a blind window--a range of  
openings1 or possibly an arcade-effect  
only1 coming below the clerestory and   
above the lower arches of the nave  ,c  
,arch 7between nave and ai              
,joining the piers or pillars which     
separate                          nave  
from aisles  ,d ,pillars 7of nave7      
,commonly called pillars1 columns1 and  
piers1 but more often are literally     
pillars1                          being 
made up of blocks of stone one          
upon another  ,e ,vaulting              
,the stone arched roof  ,f ,west wall   
,here1 in the true ,gothic church1 is   
usually                          found a
 rose window1 though often obscured     

by the organ case  ,g ,arcaded gallery  
,a feature frequently seen in the       
interior of                             
great churches1 as distinct from the    
triforium4                              
,either decorative or of practical      
value  ,h ,pavement               ,the  
floor1 always of stone1 and often of    
marble or mosaic  ,illustration3 ,,no4  
#d4 ,,cross ,,section  ,a ,flying       
buttresses      ,a thrust support1 or   
prop1 extending from                    
the main fabric to an outer pier  ,b    
,timber roof            ,the timber or  
scantling above the nave1               
which supports the outer tiled or leaden
                          roofing  ,c   
,nave                   ,the main body  
of a church  ,d ,aisle                  
,the passage which flanks the nave  ,e  
,outer aisle            ,a second or    
outer passage flanking the nave  ,f     
,stairway to roof of aisle              
,stairways from the interior pavement1  
leading                          to     

triforium1 belfry1 or roof  ,g ,crypt   
,in reality a lower or subterranean     
church                          or      
chapel2 from crypta1 to hide  ,h        
,buttress pier          ,the outer      
support of a flying buttress1 or        
one lying directly against the wall     
which                          it       
strengthens     ,,index   ,ablard1 #id4 
,acquitaine1 #agf1 #baa4  ,adela1 mother
 of ,king ,stephen of ,blois1 #aba4     
,agrippa1 #acd4  ,aisne1 ,department of 
the1 #acd4  ,alenon1 ,bishop of1 #cjg4  
,alenon1 ,notre ,dame d'1 #bif-bih4     
,amboise1 ,cardinal d'1 #hd1 #ij4       
,amboise1 ,georges d'1 #he1 #ij4        
,amiens1 #cb1 #ce1 #cg1 #fa1 #fb1 #aag1 
#abi1 #acc1 #bjj1 #bfg1 #bgb1 #bgh4     
,amiens1 ,bishop of1 #fe4  ,amiens1     
,cathedral at1 #adj1 #ada1 #chd4        
,amiens1 ,flying buttresses at1 #fg4    
,amiens1 ,notre ,dame d'1 #fd1 #fi1 #gb1
 #cff1 #cfg4  ,ampoule1 ,sainte1 ,the1  
#be1 #adc4  ,angers1 #aai1 #adi4        
,angers1 ,bishop's ,palace at1 #aha4    

,angers1 ,castle at1 #age4  ,angers1    
,david d'1 #bce4  ,angers1 ,st4 ,maurice
 d'1 #adg1 #agc-ahb1 #cfg1 #cfh4        
,angevine ,churches1 ,the1 #bae4        
,angevine details at ,le ,mans1 #aae4   
,angevine style of architecture1 ,the1  
#agf1 #ahj4  ,angoulme1 #ae4  ,anjou1   
#aae4  ,anjou1 ,counts of1 #age4        
,anjou1 ,dukes of1 #agc1 #aha4  ,anjou1 
,margaret of1 #agc4  ,anne of ,brittany1
 #afi1 #ahd4  ,anne1 ,duchess 7see also 
,anne of ,brittany71 #ahh4  ,antwerp1   
#abf4  ,architectural divisions of      
,france1 #cd4  ,ardennes1 ,department of
 the1 #acd4  ,arles1 #cc4  ,arras1 #ae1 
#ahd1 #bbf4  ,arras1 ,belfry at1 #bde2  
,citadel of1 #bdd2   ,htel de ,ville1   
#bde4  ,arras1 ,st4 ,vaast d'1 #bdb-bdf1
 #cfh4  ,artois1 #bcg1 #bdb4  ,assisi1  
,st4 ,francis of1 #ahh4  ,attila1 #acb4 
,attila1 ,attack on ,aurelianum1 #aej4  
,attila1 ,defeat at ,chalons1 #bea4     
,augustus1 #acd4  ,aurelian1 #aej1 #bbf4
  ,autun1 #cc1 #beg1 #beh4  ,autun1 ,st4
 ,lazare d'1 #beg-bfa1 #cfh4  ,auvergne1

 #aea4  ,auvergnat ,churches1 ,the1     
#bae4  ,auxerre1 #bae4  ,auxerre1       
,bishops of1 #aid4  ,auxerre1 ,episcopal
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,etienne d'1 #aia-aif1 #cfi4  ,auxonne1 
,notre ,dame d'1 #bbj4  ,avignon1 #cc4  
,avranches1 #cba4  ,avranches1 ,notre   
,dame de1 #cbf-cbh4  ,azon1 #cjg4       
,baldwin of ,hainault1 #bcg4  ,balzac1  
#afd4  ,bayeux1 #bhe4  ,bayeux1 ,odo1   
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 ,dame de1 #caj-cad1 #cfi4  ,bayeux1    
,tapestry of1 #caj1 #caa4  ,beauvais1   
#ac1 #ai1 #bj1 #cb1 #ce1 #cg1 #fa1 #fi1 
#aag-aai1 #acc1 #bjj1 #bfg4  ,beauvais1 
,bishop of1 #eb1 #cjc4  ,beauvais1      
,romano-,byzantine work at1 #ge4        
,beauvais1 ,cathedral of ,st4 ,pierre1  
#bh1 #gj-gf1 #adj1 #cfi4  ,beaux ,arts1 
,dpartement de1 #bc1 #cdj4  ,beaux      
,arts1 ,palais des1 #if4  ,becket1 ,st4 
,thomas 1 #ed1 #bhj1 #bhb1 #cbg4        
,bedford1 ,duke of1 #ij4  ,belgica1     
,secunda1 #acb4  ,bellegambe1 #bdd4     
,bellne1 ,count of1 #cjg4  ,belmas1     

,bishop1 #bce4  ,benedictine ,abbey at  
,st4 ,denis1 #ic4  ,berengaria1 ,queen1 
#aac1 #abj4  ,bernard de ,soissons1     
#ach4  ,berry1 ,duc de1 #if1 #ajh4      
,besanon1 #bg1 #cb1 #bbc1 #bbe4         
,bethlem1 ,bishop of1 #ca4  ,bishop's   
,palace1 ,the 7,amiens71 #fg4  ,bishop's
 ,palace1 ,the1 at ,beauvais1 #gf4      
,black ,angers1 #agd 7see ,shakespeare  
on ,angers74  ,blanche of ,castile1 #ff1
 #afi4  ,blois1 #ah1 #adi1 #baj1 #bae4  
,blois1 ,chateau of1 #aeg4  ,blois1     
,counts of1 #aba4  ,blois1 ,king        
,stephen of1 #aba4  ,blois1 ,st4 ,louis 
de1 #aef4  ,bonn1 ,minster at1 #ej4     
,borgia1 ,csar1 #ahb4  ,borrome1 #bdd4  
,boulogne-sur-,mer1 #bbc1 #bbe4         
,boulogne-sur-,mer1 ,notre ,dame de1    
#bca-bcc4  ,bourass1 ,abb1 #ajh1 #baa1  
#bfj1 #bgi1 #cjc4  ,bourges1 #cc1 #cg1  
#fa1 #bae4  ,bourges1 ,st4 ,etienne de1 
#aci1 #aii-bjh1 #cgj4  ,brest1 #cdh4    
,bretagne1 ,duc de1 #ahg4  ,briceius1   
#afe4  ,brittany1 #ab1 #bj1 #bg1 #cb4   
,brittany1 ,chancellor of1 #ahb4        

,brittany1 ,duchy of1 #ahd4  ,bruges1   
#bfb4  ,burgundy1 #beh1 #bei1 #bfb4     
,byzantine influences at ,bourges1 #bjb4
  ,byzantine tendencies1 #ac2           
conception1 #bg4   ,caen1 #bhe4  ,csar1 
burned ,orleans1 #aej4  ,calixtus ,,ii41
 #acc4  ,calvin 7,john71 #ea4  ,cambrai1
 #ae1 #bbf4  ,cambrai1 ,notre ,dame de1 
#bcd-bcf4  ,capet1 ,hugh1 #ea4          
,carcassonne1 #cc4  ,carlovingian       
,dynasty1 ,the1 #id4  ,carrier1 #ahc4   
,cathedrals1 ,the ,grand1 #bc4          
,cathedrals of the ,north1 #bf4  ,caveau
 ,imperial1 ,the1 at ,st4 ,denis1 #ie4  
,chalons 7sur ,marne71 #acb1 #acc1 #bbf4
  ,chalons-sur-,marne1 ,st4 ,etienne de1
 #bea-bec1 #cga4  ,chambidge1 ,martin1  
#bgf4  ,chambord1 #ah1 #baj1 #bad4      
,champagne1 ,counts of1 #bgd4           
,chancellor of ,brittany1 #ahb4         
,chantilly1 ,chateau of1 #ej4           
,charlemagne1 #ea1 #acc1 #bhb4          
,charlemagne1 ,tour de1 #afe4  ,charles 
of ,anjou1 #abj4  ,charles the ,bold1   
,duke of ,burgundy1 #bfb-bfc4  ,charles 

7,king71 #bab4  ,charles ,v41 #bdj1     
#bhb4  ,charles ,,vii41 #cj1 #ach1 #add4
  ,charles ,,viii41 #ag1 #afi1 #ahd4    
,charles ,x41 #bd1 #add4  ,chartres1    
#bj1 #cj1 #cc1 #ce1 #fa1 #fb1 #aac1     
#baj1 #bae1 #bgh1 #cch4  ,chartres1     
,celtic foundation of1 #abd4  ,chartres1
 ,counts of1 #aba4  ,chartres1 ,details 
at1 #hg4  ,chartres1 ,jean de1 #ahg4    
,chartres1 ,notre ,dame de1 #aba1 #aci1 
#adj1 #ada1 #cga4  ,chartres1 ,spires of
 ,cathedral at1 #abe1 #bfg4  ,chaste    
,susanne1 ,painting of1 #bbj4  ,chateau 
of the ,italian ,dukes 7at ,nevers71    
#baj4  ,chateaux of the ,loire1 #ah1    
#cb1 #adh4  ,chaucer's ,temple of ,mars1
 #hf4  ,chaumont1 #ah4  ,chenonceau1    
#ah1 #baj4  ,childeric1 #acb1 #acc4     
,cires-les-,mello1 #ce4  ,clamecy1 #ca4 
,clement1 ,eudes1 #ii4  ,clotilda1 wife 
of ,clovis1 #acc4  ,clovis1 #bb1 #cj1   
#ach1 #aci1 #adc1 #add1 #bbd4  ,clovis1 
,baptism of1 #acc4  ,coligny1 #aea4     
,cologne1 ,apse-sided transepts at1 #ej4
  ,cologne1 ,cathedral at1 #bj1 #cg1    

#ace1 #ada4  ,colomb1 ,michel1 #ahg1    
#ccb4  ,colombiers1 #cae4  ,commercy1   
,jacquemin de1 #bej4  ,commission des   
,monuments ,historiques1 #ce1 #agj1     
#agf1 #bac4  ,compigne1 ,chateau of1    
#ej4  ,conds1 ,the1 #aec4  ,constant1   
#bhb4  ,cormier1 ,jean1 #abi4           
,corroyer1 #cdi4  ,coucy1 ,chateau of1  
#ej4  ,coutances1 #bfg1 #bhe1 #bhf1     
#cba4  ,coutances1 ,notre ,dame de1     
#cba-cbe4  ,creil1 #ce4  ,croixmore1    
,abp4 ,robert de1 #hd4  ,crusaders1     
,the1 #ad4   ,dagobert ,i41 #ic4        
,d',arc1 ,jeanne1 #aea1 #cjc4  ,dauphins
 of ,france1 ,the1 #agj4  ,da ,vinci1   
#aeg4  ,de ,breze1 ,louis1 #hi4  ,de    
,breze1 ,pierre1 #hi4  ,de ,caumont1    
,abcdaire'd ,architecture1 #cc1 #cdi4   
,de ,sauteuil1 #ajf4  ,descartes1 #afd4 
,descent from the ,cross1 ,the 7by      
,rubens71 #bci4  ,devils of ,notre      
,dame1 ,the1 #ajf4  ,dieppe1 #bhe4      
,dijon1 #bg1 #bbc1 #beh4  ,dijon1 ,st4  
,bnigne of1 #bbe1 #bfb-bfe4  ,dinan1    
#cce4  ,dol-de-,bretagne1 ,faade at1    

#ih4  ,dol-de-,bretagne1 ,st4 ,samson   
de1 #cbi-ccb4  ,domenichino1 #bgb4      
,domfront1 #cba4  ,douai1 #bdd4  ,du    
,bellay ,langey1 #abj4  ,duftre1 ,mgr41 
#baa4  ,duroctorum1 #acb4   ,east of    
,paris1 #bba4  ,eastern influences at   
,bourges1 #bjb4  ,ebo1 ,bishop of       
,reims1 #acf4  ,edict of ,nantes1 ,the1 
#ahc4  ,edward ,,iii41 #abi4  ,english  
characteristics of ,gothic1 #de1 #fh4   
,estonteville1 ,cardinal d'1 #hh4       
,evreux1 #cb4  ,evreux1 ,notre ,dame d'1
 #bhh-bie1 #cgb4  ,exeter1 #aad4        
,falise1 #cba4  ,fenelon1 #bce1 #bcf4   
,fergusson1 quoted1 #ab1 #ef1 #abf1     
#aci4  ,fiesole1 ,jrme de1 #ahg4        
,flemish school of painting1 #bdd4      
,flemish wood-carving1 #ij4  ,florence1 
#cc4  ,flying buttresses1 ,notre ,dame  
de ,paris1 #bh2   ,notre ,dame          
d',amiens1 #bh2   ,tours1 #afg4  ,foix1 
,marguerite de1 #ahg4  ,fouilloy1       
,evrard de1 #fe4  ,france1              
,architectural divisions of1 #cd4       
,france1 ,ecclesiastical capital of1    

#acc4  ,france1 ,kings of1 #bd1 #ic1    
#chc4  ,francis ,i41 #gd4  ,francis     
,,ii41 ,tomb of1 #ahg4  ,franks1 ,the1  
#bb4  ,franks1 ,the ,ripuarian1 #acc4   
,franks1 ,invasion of1 #acb1 #acc1 #bbd4
  ,frankish influence1 #aa4  ,freeman1  
,prof4 ,aug41 #aac1 #bdh1 #caa4  ,frjus1
 #ae4  ,french ,flanders1 #da4  ,french 
,gothic ,architecture1 #ch4  ,french    
,medival ,architecture1 #ch4  ,french   
,revolution1 ,the1 #ca1 #dc1 #dd1 #eb1  
#ee1 #if1 #ii1 #ajc1 #adb1 #ahd1 #bbf4  
,fulbert1 ,bishop of ,chartres1 #abi4   
,gallery of ,kings1 at ,amiens1 #fg4    
,gallery of ,kings1 ,the 7at ,reims71   
#ach1 #agh4  ,gaucher1 #ach4  ,geeraerts
 7of ,antwerp71 #bce4  ,genabum 7of     
,gallia71 #aej4  ,genoa1 #aeg4  ,german 
manner of building1 #bg4  ,ghent1 #bdb1 
#bfb4  ,gisors1 #ce4  ,gobelin          
,tapestries1 #gf1 #adc4  ,gons1 #cdi4   
,good ,god of ,amiens1 ,the1 #ff4       
,gothic1 ,development of1 #ad1 #bd2     
,rudimentary1 #af2   ,anti1 #ah2   ,non1
 #ah4  ,goujon1 ,jean1 #hi1 #agj4       

,gourney1 #ce4  ,grand ,cathedrals1     
,the1 #ab1 #bj1 #ce1 #fa-fc4            
,granville1 #cba4  ,grouin1 #cde4       
,guillaume of ,sens1 #bbe4  ,guillaume  
,bras-de-,fer1 #cbc4   ,hachette1       
,jeanne1 #gf4  ,haffreingue1 ,mgr41     
#bcc4  ,henry ,i41 #abi1 #acc4  ,henry  
,,ii4 7of ,france71 #aac1 #aff1 #bdi4   
,henry ,,ii4 7of ,england71 #bhb1 #cja1 
#cbe4  ,henry ,,iv41 #cj1 #if1 #acc1    
#aec1 #ahc4  ,henry of ,navarre1 #abi4  
,house of the ,kings1 ,the1 #add4  ,hugh
 ,,ii41 #bae4  ,hugo's ,notre ,dame1    
#ajf4  ,huguenots1 ,the1 #aec1 #aie4    
,humbert1 ,alberic de1 #acg4   ,irene1  
,princess1 #acj4  ,isle de la ,cit1     
#aje1 #ajf4  ,isle of ,france1 #ab1 #bg1
 #fa4  ,italian influences1 #ag4  ,ivor 
7,bishop of ,chartres71 #bab4   ,james  
7,henry71 #afc1 #bjd4  ,jean sans ,peur1
 #bfe4  ,jensen1 ,nicolas1 #afd4        
,joannes1 ,abb1 #bec4  ,john1 ,duke of  
,bedford1 #ij4  ,john the ,baptist1 #fi4
  ,jovinus1 ,tomb of1 #adb4  ,juste1    
#agj4   ,kreisker1 ,the 7at ,st4 ,pol de

 ,leon71 #cde4   ,la ,hougue1 #cde4     
,langres1 #cb4  ,langres1 ,la ,montagne 
de1 #bah4  ,langres1 ,st4 ,mammes de1   
#bah-bbj4  ,laon1 #bj1 #cb1 #da1 #fa1   
#cbe4  ,laon1 ,notre ,dame de1 #dc-df1  
#di1 #aci1 #cgb-cgc4  ,laon1 ,palais de 
,justice1 #df4  ,last ,judgment1 ,the   
7at ,bourges71 #bjd4  ,le ,mans1 #cb1   
#fa1 #fb1 #abj1 #aba1 #abd1 #afh1 #bjj1 
#baj1 #cch4  ,le ,mans1 ,german invasion
 of1 #abj4  ,le ,mans1 ,notre ,dame de  
la ,cloture1 #ahj4  ,le ,mans1 ,st4     
,julien1 #aac-abj1 #cgc1 #cgd4  ,leo    
,,iii41 #acc4  ,leo ,,ix41 #cjg4  ,le   
,puy1 #cc4  ,lescornel1 #bai4  ,le      
,tellier1 #add4  ,le ,veneur1 ,bishop1  
#bib4  ,libergier1 #adb4  ,limoges1     
#aea4  ,lisieux1 #bhe1 #bhf1 #cja4      
,lisieux1 ,st4 ,pierre de1 #cja-cjd4    
,loire1 ,cathedrals of the1 #ade4       
,loire1 ,valley of the1 #adg1 #adh4     
,loire1 ,chateaux of1 #ah1 #cb1 #adg4   
,longsword1 ,william1 #hi4  ,lorraine1  
,abb1 #adc4  ,loudon1 ,geoffroy de1     
#aah4  ,louis le ,dbonnaire1 #acc4      

,louis le ,gros1 #acc4  ,louis ,i41     
#acf4  ,louis ,,vi41 #id4  ,louis ,,xi41
 #bjh1 #bdf4  ,louis ,,xii41 #ahd4      
,louis ,,xii41 ,tomb of1 at ,st4 ,denis1
 #ai4  ,louis ,,xiv41 #add4  ,louis     
,,xvi41 #if1 #bhb4  ,louis ,,xviii41    
#ca1 #if1 #adc4  ,louis ,philippe1 #ca4 
,louviers1 #abg1 #big4  ,low ,countries1
 ,the1 #af1 #bj4  ,lowell 7,james       
,russell71 ,a ,day in ,chartres1 #abf4  
,lowell1 ,hon4 ,e4 ,j41 #caj4           
,luitgarde1 #afe4  ,luzarche1 ,robert   
de1 #fe4   ,madeleine1 ,the1 #if4  ,maid
 of ,orleans1 ,the1 #ha1 #id1 #add1     
#aea4  ,maine1 #aad4  ,maine1 ,count of1
 #abj4  ,mainz1 #bad4  ,mansard1 #aei1  
#bdj4  ,margaret of ,anjou1 #agc1 #aha4 
,marie ,antoinette1 #if4  ,marie de     
,medicis1 #ahb4  ,marie ,louise1 #ie4   
,marne1 ,department of1 #acb1 #acd4     
,marne1 ,river1 #bgj4  ,martel1         
,charles1 #acc4  ,matilda1 queen of     
,william the ,conqueror1 #abi1 #caj1    
#caa4  ,mazarin 7,cardinal71 #baj4      
,meaux1 #bgj4  ,meaux1 ,st4 ,etienne de1

 #bgj-bgc1 #cgd4  ,medicis1 ,marie de1  
#ahb4  ,mre de ,dieu1 #ff4  ,metz1 #bbg1
 #bdh1 #bdi4  ,myron1 ,etchings of1     
#ajf4  ,montbray1 ,geoffroy de1 #cbc4   
,monthery1 #hi4  ,mont ,st4 ,michel1    
#cba1 #ccg1 #cch2   ,abbey of1 #cch4    
,monuments1 ,historical1 #bc1 #cdj4     
,moorish type of architecture at        
,bourges1 #bja4  ,moors of ,spain1 ,the1
 #bjb4  ,moselle1 ,valley of the1 #bbf4 
,moulins1 #cf4  ,muse des ,petits       
,augustines1 #if4   ,nancy1 #bbf4       
,nancy1 ,cathedral at1 #bbg4  ,nantes1  
#bj1 #cb1 #adh1 #adi4  ,nantes1 ,edict  
of1 #ahc4  ,nantes1 ,st4 ,pierre de1    
#ahc1 #cgd1 #cge4  ,naples1 #aeg4       
,napoleon ,i41 #ca1 #ajc2   ,marriage   
of1 #ie4  ,napoleon ,,iii41 #ca1 #ii4   
,narbonne1 #aea4  ,narthex1 ,burgundian1
 #beh4  ,netherlands1 ,the1 #ad4        
,neuss1 ,apse-sided transepts at1 #ej4  
,nevers1 #cc1 #bgg4  ,nevers1 ,st4 ,cyr 
and ,st4 ,juliette de1 #bji4  ,nevers1  
,st4 ,etienne de1 #bab1 #baf4  ,nevers1 
,the ,pont du ,loire1 #bji4  ,nevers1   

,tour ,gougin1 #bac2   ,tour ,st4 ,eloi1
 #bac4  ,nicman1 ,archbishop1 #acf4     
,nivre1 ,counts of1 #baj4  ,nmes1 #cc4  
,nivernais1 ,the1 #baj4                 
,nogent-les-,vierges1 #ce4  ,normandy1  
#aae1 #agf4  ,normandy1 ,duke of1 #hi4  
,norsemen1 ,the1 #hb4  ,notre ,dame     
d',alenon1 #bif-bih4  ,notre ,dame      
d',amiens1 #fd-fi1 #gb1 #cff1 #cfg4     
,notre ,dame d',auxonne1 #bbj4  ,notre  
,dame de ,bayeux1 #caj-cad1 #cfi4       
,notre ,dame de ,boulogne-sur-,mer1     
#bca-bcc4  ,notre ,dame de ,cambrai1    
#bcd-bcf4  ,notre ,dame de ,chartres1   
#aba1 #aci-ada1 #cga4  ,notre ,dame de  
,coutances1 #cba-cbe4  ,notre ,dame     
d',evreux1 #bhh-bie1 #cgb4  ,notre ,dame
 de la ,cloture 7,le ,mans71 #ahj4      
,notre ,dame de ,laon1 #dc-df1 #cgb4    
,notre ,dame de l',epine1 #bea4  ,notre 
,dame de ,noyon1 #bi1 #di-ec1 #aii1     
#cge1 #cgf4  ,notre ,dame de ,paris1    
#bh1 #di1 #aja-ajg1 #aci1 #adj1 #aii1   
#cgf1 #cgg4  ,notre ,dame de ,reims1    
#acb-add1 #bdh1 #bdi4  ,notre ,dame de  

,rouen1 #cg1 #di1 #gi-ij1 #aci1 #cch1   
#cgh1 #cgi4  ,notre ,dame de ,st4 ,lo1  
#cae-cah4  ,notre ,dame de ,st4 ,omer1  
#bcg-bda1 #chj4  ,notre ,dame de        
,senlis1 #bff-bfi4  ,noviodunum1 #ea4   
,noyades1 ,the1 #ahd4  ,noyon1 #bj1 #cb1
 #da1 #aag1 #abg1 #bfh4  ,noyon1 ,notre 
,dame de1 #bi1 #di-ec1 #aii1 #cge1 #cgf4
   ,odericus ,vitalis1 ,bishop1 #cjb4   
,odon1 #cbc4  ,oise1 ,the ,river1 #ej4  
,onfroy1 #cbc4  ,orange1 #ahd4          
,oriflamme1 ,the1 #id4  ,orleans1 #cc1  
#adh1 #adi4  ,orleans1 ,captured by     
,clovis1 #aea1 #aeb4  ,orleans ,family1 
,the1 #afi4  ,orleans1 ,german          
occupation of1 #aea4  ,orleans1 ,st4    
,croix d'1 #aej-aee1 #cgf4  ,orleans1   
,the ,maid of1 #ha1 #id1 #add1 #aea4    
,palais de ,justice1 ,beauvais1 #gf4    
,param1 #cce4  ,paris1 #bj1 #fa1 #bfg4  
,paris1 ,documentary history of1 #bf4   
,paris1 ,east of1 #bba4  ,paris1 ,notre 
,dame de1 #bh1 #di1 #aja-ajg1 #aci1     
#adj1 #aii1 #bag1 #cgf1 #cgg4           
,paroissien1 ,poncelet1 #adb4           

,pepersack ,tapestries at ,reims1 ,the1 
#adc4  ,pepin1 #id1 #acc4  ,prigueux1   
#ae1 #cc4  ,perpetus1 ,bishop of ,tours1
 #afe4  ,perral1 ,jehan1 #ahg4          
,perrifonds1 ,chateau of1 #ej4          
,philastre1 ,cardinal1 #acg4  ,philippe 
,augustus1 #bd1 #cd1 #aag4  ,philippe le
 ,bon1 #bfb4  ,philippe le ,hardi1 #ff1 
#bfe4  ,picardy1 #ahd4  ,picardy1       
,patron ,saint of1 #fi4  ,plantagenets1 
,cradle of the1 #agc4  ,poitiers1 #cc4  
,poitiers1 ,diane de1 #hi4  ,pont du    
,loire1 ,nevers1 #bji4  ,pope ,stephen1 
#id4  ,portal de ,st4 ,honor 7,amiens71 
#fg4  ,portal de la ,vierge ,dore       
7,amiens71 #fg4  ,porte d',arroux1      
,autun1 #beg4  ,porte ,st4 ,andre1      
,autun1 #beg4  ,provence1 #baa4         
,quimper1 #bg1 #cb1 #cdh4  ,quimper1    
,st4 ,corentin de1 #cdh-cej4            
,rabelais1 #afd4  ,rabida1 ,bretagne of1
 #cch4  ,raphael1 ,tapestry cartoons at 
,s4 ,kensington1 #gf4  ,reclus1 #bae4   
,regnault1 #ahg4  ,regnier1 ,cardinal1  
#bce4  ,reims1 #cb1 #ce1 #cg1 #abh1     

#abi1 #bbd1 #bbf1 #bgh4  ,reims1        
,baptism of ,clovis at1 #cj4  ,reims1   
,capture of1 by ,vandals1 #acb4  ,reims1
 ,cathedral at1 #bd4  ,reims1 ,details  
at1 #hg4  ,reims1 ,devastation at1 #be4 
,reims1 ,notre ,dame de1 #ic1 #acb-add1 
#bdh1 #bdi4  ,reims1 ,portals of        
,cathedral1 #ff4  ,reims1 ,roman remains
 at1 #acd4  ,reims1 ,st4 ,nicaise of1   
#hb4  ,remi1 ,capital of the1 #acb4     
,renaissance1 ,the1 #af4  ,renaissance  
,architecture at ,bourges1 #bja4        
,renaissance faade at ,tours1 #aff1     
#afg4  ,renaissance wood-carving1 #df4  
,ren1 ,king1 #agc1 #age1 #aha4  ,reni1  
,guido1 #bgb4  ,rennes1 #ae4            
,revolution1 ,the ,french1 #ca1 #dc1    
#dd1 #eb1 #ee1 #if1 #ii1 #ajc1 #adb1    
#ahd1 #bbf4  ,rhine1 ,the1 #bc1 #bg1    
#bbc4  ,rhine ,provinces1 ,the1 #ad4    
,rhne1 ,the1 #cf4  ,richard             
,coeur-de-,lion1 #ij1 #aac1 #abj4       
,richard the ,fearless1 #hc4  ,rigobert1
 ,bishop1 #acc4  ,robert ,i41 ,duke of  
,burgundy1 #beh1 #bfj4  ,robert1 son of 

,tancrede-de-,hauteville1 #cbc4  ,roger1
 son of ,tancrede-de-,hauteville1 #cbc4 
,rohan1 ,cardinal de1 #bdc4  ,rollo1    
#hb1 #hi4  ,romanesque tendencies1 #ac1 
#bg1 #dd2   types1 #bj1 #ba4  ,roman    
power1 ,decline of1 #bf4  ,roman remains
 at ,reims1 #acd4  ,romans1 ,the1 at    
,genabum 7,orleans71 #aej4              
,romano-,byzantine work  at ,beauvais1  
#ge4  ,romano-,byzantine nave at ,le    
,mans1 #aae4  ,rome1 #cc4  ,rosary1     
,chapel of the 7,soissons71 #eg4        
,roscoff1 #cde4  ,rouen1 #ai1 #ce1 #cg1 
#fa1 #fb4  ,rouen1 ,cathedral at1 #cg1  
#di1 #gi-ij1 #aci1 #cch1 #cgh1 #cgi4    
,rouen1 ,notre ,dame de1 #cg1 #di1      
#gi-ij1 #aci1 #cch1 #cgh1 #cgi4  ,rouen1
 ,tour de ,beurre1 #bjd4  ,royal        
,domain1 ,the1 #bbc4  ,royale1 ,rue     
7,tours71 #afc4  ,royamont1 #ce4        
,rubens1 #bce1 #bch4  ,rubens1          
,adoration by 7,soissons71 #eh4         
,rumaldi1 #acf4  ,ruskin on ,rouen      
,cathedral1 #he4  ,ruskin1 quoted1 #gb1 
#ha1 #abh1 #bhe1 #cjb4   ,st4 ,aignan1  

#aej4  ,st4 ,bnigne 7,monk of ,dijon71  
#bbe4  ,st4 ,bnigne 7,cathedral71       
#bfb-bfe4  ,st4 ,bertin1 ,abbey of 7,st4
 ,omer71 #bbe1 #bdj4  ,st4 ,brieuc1     
#cci1 #cdb4  ,st4 ,brieuc1 ,cathedral   
of1 #cdb-cdd4  ,st4 ,corentin1          
,cathedral of1 #bg4  ,st4 ,corentin de  
,quimper1 #cdh-cej4  ,st4 ,croix1 ,abbey
 of1 #cah4  ,st4 ,croix d',orleans1     
#aej-aee1 #cgf4  ,st4 ,cyr and ,st4     
,juliette de ,nevers1 #bji4  ,st4       
,denis1 #ai1 #fa4  ,st4 ,denis1 ,abbey  
of1 #ic4  ,st4 ,denis1 ,abbot of1 #id4  
,st4 ,denis1 ,basilique de1 #ic-ajj1    
#cgi4  ,st4 ,denis1 ,church of 7at ,st4 
,omer71 #bbe4  ,st4 ,denis1 ,crypt of1  
#if4  ,st4 ,deodatus1 #bed4  ,st4 ,di1  
#bbf1 #bed-bef4  ,st4 ,di 7,cathedral71 
#bee1 #bef4  ,st4 ,dionysius1 #ig1 #ih4 
,st4 ,etienne d',auxerre1 #aia-aif1     
#cfi4  ,st4 ,etienne de ,bourges1       
#aii-bjh1 #cgj4  ,st4 ,etienne          
7,chalons-sur-,marne71 #bea-bec1 #cga4  
,st4 ,etienne de ,meaux1 #bgj-bgc1 #cgd4
  ,st4 ,etienne du ,mont 7,paris71 #ae1 

#ai4  ,st4 ,etienne de ,nevers1 #bab1   
#baf4  ,st4 ,etienne de ,sens1 #bgi-bhb1
 #cgi4  ,st4 ,etienne de ,toul1         
#bdg-bej4  ,st4 ,eustache1 ,church of1  
,paris1 #aif4  ,st4 ,fermin the ,martyr1
 #fg1 #fh4  ,st4 ,francis of ,assisi1   
#ahh4  ,st4 ,gatien de ,tours1 #adg1    
#afc1 #bjf1 #cha4  ,st4 ,gengoult1      
,church of 7,toul71 #bdh4  ,st4         
,germain1 ,church of 7at ,auxerre71     
#aie4  ,st4 ,jean the ,evangel1 #bah4   
,st4 ,jean des ,vignes1 ,abbey of1 #ed4 
,st4 ,john1 #fi4  ,st4 ,julien1 ,church 
of 7at ,tours71 #afi4  ,st4 ,julien1 ,le
 ,mans1 #aac-abj1 #cgc1 #cgd4  ,st4     
,laud1 ,bishop1 #cae4  ,st4 ,lazare     
d',autun1 #beg-bfa1 #cfh4  ,st4 ,lo1    
#bhe1 #cba4  ,st4 ,lo1 ,notre ,dame de1 
#cae-cah4  ,st4 ,louis1 #cd1 #ff1 #ahh1 
#cad4  ,st4 ,louis1 ,arms of1 #afi4     
,st4 ,louis de ,blois1 #aef4  ,st4      
,louis de ,versailles1 ,cathedral of1   
#ajh4  ,st4 ,maclou1 ,church of         
7,rouen71 #ai1 #ha4  ,st4 ,malo1 #cce1  
#cch4  ,st4 ,malo1 ,cathedral of1       

#ccf-cch4  ,st4 ,mammes de ,langres1    
#bah-bbj4  ,ste4 ,marguerite1 #ahh4     
,st4 ,martin 7of ,tours71 #afe4  ,st4   
,martin1 ,tour de 7at ,tours71 #afe4    
,st4 ,maurice d',angers1 #adg1 #agc-ahb1
 #cfg1 #cfh4  ,st4 ,nazaire 7,autun71   
#beh4  ,st4 ,nicaise1 #hb1 #acf1 #adb4  
,st4 ,nicolas de ,coutances1 #cbe4  ,st4
 ,mellor1 #hb4  ,st4 ,omer1 #bg1 #bbc1  
#bbe4  ,st4 ,omer1 ,notre ,dame de1 #bcg
 #bda1 #chj4  ,st4 ,ouen1 ,church of    
7,rouen71 #ae1 #cj1 #hj1 #hg1 #bda1     
#bgg4  ,st4 ,peter's1 at ,rome1 #bj4    
,st4 ,peter's of the ,north1 #ga4  ,st4 
,peter's of the ,south1 #ac4  ,st4      
,peter and ,paul1 ,church of 7at        
,tours71 #afe4  ,st4 ,pierre d',aleth1  
#ccf4  ,st4 ,pierre de ,beauvais1 #bh1  
#gj-gf1 #adj1 #cfi4  ,st4 ,pierre de    
,coutances1 #cbe4  ,st4 ,pierre de      
,lisieux1 #cja-cjd4  ,st4 ,pierre de    
,nantes1 #ahc1 #cgd1 #cge4  ,st4 ,pierre
 de ,troyes1 #bgd-bgh1 #cha1 #chb4  ,st4
 ,pol de ,leon1 #bee1 #cci1 #cde4  ,st4 
,pol de ,leon1 ,cathedral of1 #cde-cdg4 

,st4 ,potentien1 #bgi4  ,st4 ,quentin1  
,maze at1 #aca4  ,st4 ,remi1 #ca1 #acc1 
#acd1 #acf4  ,st4 ,samson1 #cbi-ccb4    
,st4 ,savinien1 #bgi1 #bhb4  ,st4       
,sepulchre1 ,church of 7at ,st4 ,omer71 
#bdj4  ,st4 ,servan1 #cce1 #cch4  ,st4  
,sixte1 #acb4  ,st4 ,urbain1 #bge4  ,st4
 ,vaast d',arras1 #bdb-bdf1 #cde1 #cfh4 
,st4 ,yves1 #cda4  ,sainte ,ampoule1    
,the1 #be1 #adc4  ,salisbury1 ,cathedral
 at1 #fd1 #chd4  ,salisbury1 ,john of1  
#abi4  ,saracen type of architecture at 
,bourges1 #bja4  ,sez1 #fa1 #bfg1 #bgg1 
#cje4  ,sez1 ,notre ,dame de1 #cje-cji4 
,seine1 ,the1 #cf1 #ajf4  ,seine and    
,loire 7by ,j4 ,m4 ,w4 ,turner71 #afi4  
,seine1 ,department of1 #ajh4  ,senlis1 
#bff4  ,senlis1 ,notre ,dame de1        
#bff-bfi4  ,sens1 #fa1 #bgi4  ,sens1    
,guillaume of1 #bbe1 #bhj4  ,sens1 ,st4 
,etienne de1 #bgi-bhb1 #cgi4  ,seville1 
,cathedral at1 #bj4  ,shakespeare on    
,angers 7in ,king ,john71 #agc4  ,societ
 des ,monuments ,historiques1 #ce1 #agj1
 #agf4  ,soissons1 #bj1 #cb1 #da1 #aag1 

#acc1 #bfh4  ,soissons1 ,bombardment of1
 by the ,germans1 #ef4  ,soissons1      
,notre ,dame de1 #ed-eh4  ,south        
,kensington1 #bgb4  ,stephen1 ,pope1    
#acf4  ,stevenson 7,robert ,louis71 #bh1
 #db4  ,strasbourg1 #bdh4  ,strasburg1  
,cathedral at1 #abf1 #ace1 #bbg4        
,suger1 ,abbot1 ,the1 #id1 #ig4         
,suisse1 ,the1 #hj4                     
,tancrede-de-,hauteville1 #cbc4         
,tapestries at ,angers1 #aha4           
,tapestries at ,bayeux1 #caj-caa4       
,tapestries at ,le ,mans1 #abj4         
,tapestries at ,reims1 #adb1 #adc4      
,tapestries at ,soissons1 #eh4          
,tapestries from ,raphael's cartoons 7at
 ,beauvais71 #gf4  ,tapestry-making at  
,beauvais1 #gf2   at ,paris2 at ,arras1 
#gf1 #bdb1 #bde1 #bdf4  ,tetricus1 #bbf4
  ,texier1 #abf1 #aca4  ,throuanne1 ,the
 ,great ,god of1 #bdj4  ,torenai ,river1
 #beh4  ,torlonia1 ,prince ,alex1 #bcc4 
,toul1 #bbf1 #bdg-bej4  ,toul1 ,st4     
,etienne de1 #bdg-bej4  ,toulouse1 #aea4
  ,tour d',auvergne1 ,cardinal de la1   

#bdd4  ,tour de ,beurre 7,rouen71 #hd1  
#hi4  ,tour de ,charlemagne 7at ,tours71
 #afe4  ,tour de ,hasting 7at ,trguier71
 #cdj4  ,tour ,gougin 7at ,nevers71     
#bac4  ,tour de l',horloge 7at ,tours71 
#afe4  ,tour ,st4 ,eloi 7at ,nevers71   
#bac4  ,tour de ,st4 ,martin 7at        
,tours71 #afe4  ,touraine1 ,old1 #afc4  
,tournai1 #da4  ,tours1 #ah1 #cc1 #bgg4 
,tours1 ,church of ,st4 ,peter and      
,paul1 #afe4  ,tours1 ,st4 ,gatien de1  
#adg1 #afc1 #bjf1 #cha4  ,tours 7,st4   
,martin of71 #afe4  ,tours1 ,west front 
of ,st4 ,gatien1 #gd4  ,transition      
examples1 #ci4  ,transition ,style of   
,architecture1 ,the1 #agf4  ,trguier1   
#cb1 #bee1 #cci4  ,trguier1 ,cathedral  
of1 #cci-cda4  ,tresor1 ,the1 at ,reims1
 #adc4  ,tresor1 ,the1 at ,troyes1 #bgh4
  ,tresor1 ,the1 at ,sens1 #bhb4        
,tresor1 ,the1 at ,bayeux1 #cad4        
,treves1 #bad4  ,trianons1 ,the1 #ajh4  
,troyes1 #bj1 #fa1 #bgd1 #bge4  ,troyes1
 ,st4 ,pierre de1 #bgd-bgh1 #cha1 #chb4 
,turner 7,j4 ,m4 ,w471 ,seine and       

,loire1 #afi4   ,valence1 #cf4  ,valois 
,branch of the ,orleans ,family1 #afi4  
,vannes1 #cea4  ,vannes1 ,cathedral of1 
#cea1 #ceb4  ,vauban1 #bdd4  ,vaucluse1 
#ahd4  ,vendme1 ,matthieu de1 #ii4      
,versailles1 ,fountains at1 #ajh4       
,versailles1 ,st4 ,louis de1 #ajh4      
,villeneuve1 ,bishop de1 #aic4          
,villers-,st4-,pol1 #ce4                
,viollet-le-,duc1 #hc1 #if1 #ii1 #aci1  
#aha1 #cdi4  ,vire1 ,river1 #cae4       
,wellington1 ,duke of1 #age4            
,westphalia1 ,treaty of1 #bdi4          
,william1 ,duke of ,normandy1 #cbc4     
,winchester1 ,henry1 ,bishop of1 #aba4  
,winchester1 ,prelate of1 #cjc4         
,wood-carving 7at ,amiens71 #fh4        
,worms1 #bad4   ,yonne1 ,the ,river1    
#aia4  ,young1 ,arthur1 #cf1 #bji4