Reims Cathedral
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims
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The site on which Reims Cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, is built dates back to the 496.A.D. It was in this basilica that Clovis was crowned King of France by the bishop of Reims, Saint Remi who is buried in the present day cathedral. |
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Each king of France was subsequently crowned in the basilica with Charles X being the last to be crowned in 1825. A cathedral was built later on this site that burned in 1211 and the current Cathedral was completed in the 13th century. |
 Here Lies the Body of St Remi |
The architects of Reims Cathedral capitalized on the design of the cathedral at Chartres, however, Reims is taller and more narrow than Chartres. Reims is 3 feet taller and 9 feet narrower making it feel much taller.
During World War I the Cathedral was nearly destroyed and it took 20 years to rebuild. Reims Cathedral, along with Chartres Cathedral, Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral and the cathedral in Amiens, is representative of the High Gothic French cathedrals of the 13th century.
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No other cathedral has more carved statuary than the Reims Cathedral other than the Cathedral at Chartres. |
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Inside the Cathedral you look up to discover a choir that is 38 meters high (124.7 feet)and 150 meters (492 feet or 164 yards – longer than a football field) across. Windows that were not destroyed during World War I decorate the apse and date from 1235.
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This black and white photo demonstrates the enormity of length of this grand cathedral. From the perspective, it appears to go on forever. |
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The rose window of the north transept dates only slightly later than the apse and its theme is creation. If you view this window from the exterior you will see Adam and Eve on each side of the window.
In the axial chapel (the apse behind the altar) you will find present day stained glass by Marc Chagall.
The left window below has scenes from the Old Testament, the center has scenes of the resurrection of Christ and the right window contains the tree of Jesse which is extended symbolically to include the royalty of France.
The Great Rose window on the front façade is dedicated to Our Lady (Notre Dame) the Virgin Mary while the smaller rose window beneath it represents the Litanies of Mary.
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The organ-case is Gothic in style and the organ itself has about 6742 pipes. My favorite part of Chartres Cathedral, the labyrinth, could also be found at Reims at one time. Unfortunately, the labyrinth at Reims was destroyed in the late 1700s. |
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On the exterior of the cathedral, the central porch is dedicated to the Saints of the Church of Reims. The western central portal is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
On the tympanum above the Great Rose window on the western side are reliefs of David and Goliath and above this is the Kings Gallery portraying the anointed Kings of the Old Testament.
Close-up of the Kings below:
There are 63 statues here averaging 4.5 meters in height. In the center of these Kings is Clovis who was the first King of France (496 a.d.) to be baptized and crowned at Reims.
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On the northern doorway is l’ange au sourire, the smiling angel. She is the symbol for the city of Reims. If you look closely at the sculptures on the Cathedral, you will find many carved angels on the cathedral, one of which is very similar to the Smiling Angel. |
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Taking a tour to the top of the Cathedral provides up close views of the sculpture work, the interior structure of the Cathedral, and of the city of Reims itself. The detail of the iron work and massive size of the stone sculptures is quite impressive. You can also have close up look at the flying buttresses which are characteristic of the Gothic style.
Flying Buttresses
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