Official name: Cathedral of Saint-Pierre Also known as: Quartier Cathedral Built: 1225-1384 Designed by: Bishop Miles of Nanteuil, Bishop Robert of Cressonsac, and Bishop William of Grez Type: Holy Place Maximum Height: 158 feet / 48 meters Location: Rue Saint-Pierre, Beauvais, France
T he cathedral of Saint-Pierre in Beauvais isn't famous so much for its soaring beauty, but for the day it came crashing down. Cathedral building in medieval France was plagued by turf battles. Without a stable government, it's hard to get long-term projects like cathedrals built without interruption. At first, the cathedral was going to be a symbol of French unity and a masterpiece of architecture. But as the project moved forward, people fell out of favor, money became tight, and priorities changed. Later the cathedral project was reinvigorated. In fact, under Bishop William of Grez, an extra 16 feet were added to the height, to make it the tallest cathedral in Europe. That seemed like a good idea at the time. But in 1248, the choir section collapsed. Money was diverted from the rest of the project to repair that section, and the nave was never completed. Academics like to exercise themselves over the reasons for the collapse, but its effects are plain. Enthusiasm for the project declined, and while up close the cathedral is a magnificent piece of architecture, from a distance it is clearly a shell of what it could have been, lacking even a steeple. In reality, the cathedral once had a tower, but like the cathedral nave, it, too collapsed.
1225 - Construction begins under the direction of Bishop Miles of Nanteuil.
1232 - Construction is completed on the first phase.
1238 - Construction begins under the direction of Bishop Robert of Cressonsac.
~1250 - Construction continues under the direction of Bishop William of Grez.
alan mount
Friday, September 11th, 2009 @ 3:34pm
Rating: Five stars. visited 4 years ago thought the building very impressive but my wife had a dreadful psychic experience in there and had to be assisted out I cant explain why
David Bignell
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 @ 8:14am
Rating: Five stars. Jaw dropping awesome building oozing character and history. Highlights for me are the high interior and magnificent clock inside. I am fortunate enough to travel here a lot and i always visit this.....magnificent!!1
Beverly
Monday, January 19th, 2009 @ 4:43pm
Rating: One star. Magnificent, one of the great things about traveling to France, indeed all of Europe. Hope to go back some day soon.
Jane Edmonds
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 @ 6:03am
This was a serendipitious discovery on my way home from Paris - and finding it tucked away it was in juxtaposition to its modern surroundings making it all the more awe-inspiring than ever!
Jeffrey Rankin
Monday, September 15th, 2008 @ 4:16pm
Majestic soaring folly.When I was there in September 2008 an old man started singing plainsong-his voice soared up to the lofty vaults
Tony C.
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 @ 7:50pm
Rating: Five stars. I've seen a magnificent film of this church on Classic Arts Showcase. The photography is incredibly beautiful! I must visit Beauvais on my next trip.
Britt-Marie
Sunday, March 4th, 2007 @ 3:09pm
Rating: Five stars. Arrived too late, it was closed, but what a breathtaking experience to see it in the dark. Magic!!
Laszlo
Sunday, June 11th, 2006 @ 1:04pm
Rating: Five stars. The cathedral is gorgeous and surprising
kristen
Wednesday, October 26th, 2005 @ 7:02pm
Rating: Five stars. it is very beautiful.
john
Wednesday, August 24th, 2005 @ 8:33pm
Rating: Five stars. its beautiful, its great!!
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alan mount
Five stars.
David Bignell
Beverly
One star.
Laszlo