Great piece on a cathedral I haven't visited in person for more than forty years (😢). From your photos the layer between the nave arcade and the clerestory seems to be a hybrid triforium / gallery, with external glass? Does the aisle have a pitched roof?
On the inside the aisles are all vaulted. You can’t see the pitch of the roof from the outside, at least not at ground level, so it must be very shallow. The glassed in triforium is somewhat unusual but I know I’ve seen it lots of places — St Ouen in Rouen comes immediately to mind, and next weeks cathedral — in Spain — also has windows in the triforium.
Ah, yes they are there too — the chancel but not the nave (I just looked). That’s earlier than I’d have guessed. Strasbourg has them, too. It’d be interesting to go through all my documentation and see where they all are. Not any time soon though, I’ve got other things to do.
I love visiting cathedrals very early in the morning too when no one is there. I’ve been to a few more or less at sunrise so you can see them slowly come to life.
I visited here about 20 years ago before I had any understanding of what I was looking at. I was in Tours to visit Chambord etc. and happened to pass the cathedral and pop in. I remember being struck by the height (although nothing like as high as many of the other French cathedrals) and the simplicity - probably what you describe as the unified nature of it.
Wonderful thank you Ben your posts are a highlight of my week!
Thanks for letting me know, I’m glad you enjoy them!
Great piece on a cathedral I haven't visited in person for more than forty years (😢). From your photos the layer between the nave arcade and the clerestory seems to be a hybrid triforium / gallery, with external glass? Does the aisle have a pitched roof?
On the inside the aisles are all vaulted. You can’t see the pitch of the roof from the outside, at least not at ground level, so it must be very shallow. The glassed in triforium is somewhat unusual but I know I’ve seen it lots of places — St Ouen in Rouen comes immediately to mind, and next weeks cathedral — in Spain — also has windows in the triforium.
By any chance, are you referring to the "glazed triforium"? If I remember correctly, glazed triforiums became popular with Amiens.
Ah, yes they are there too — the chancel but not the nave (I just looked). That’s earlier than I’d have guessed. Strasbourg has them, too. It’d be interesting to go through all my documentation and see where they all are. Not any time soon though, I’ve got other things to do.
I went at night. The silence was defeaning. The silhouettes of the towers in the dark of night is terrifying. Fond memories!
I love visiting cathedrals very early in the morning too when no one is there. I’ve been to a few more or less at sunrise so you can see them slowly come to life.
I visited here about 20 years ago before I had any understanding of what I was looking at. I was in Tours to visit Chambord etc. and happened to pass the cathedral and pop in. I remember being struck by the height (although nothing like as high as many of the other French cathedrals) and the simplicity - probably what you describe as the unified nature of it.
Thank you! I appreciate your details and your photos!