A must-see
article | Reading time5 min
Discover this jewel of Bourges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
A cathedral doubly classified by Unesco
After strolling through the narrow streets of the old town of Bourges, you come face to face with the cathedral of Saint-Étienne, which dominates the entire city.
This vast stone vessel, dedicated to Saint Étienne, Christianity's first martyr, stands out for the remarkable unity of its overall design. Built from 1195 onwards in a single major phase, the cathedral is a masterpiece of human creative genius, illustrating an important period in history.
As such, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, and as part of France's Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela in 1998.
© Ad2T du Cher
Asymmetrical west facade with five portals
Its main facade (west) is a major example of Gothic sculpture, with decoration of the highest quality.
Two unequal towers that "limp in the sky", as the writer Huysmans put it, frame five sculpted portals. The central one, familiar to all art lovers, depicts the Last Judgment, with the dead rising from their tombs and Saint Michael weighing souls.
On the right, the south tower (58 meters) suffered from stability problems even before the cathedral's consecration in 1324. It was decided not to raise it any further, and not to install any bells on it, hence its name of "deaf tower" (it would be better to call it "dumb tower"!). An enormous buttress called the "abutment pillar" was also built to support the entire weight of the façade.
On the left, the north tower collapsed in 1506, damaging the two nearby portals. It was completely rebuilt in 1508 (66 meters), which explains some of its Renaissance features. Financed by the indulgences of the faithful, allowing them to eat fatty foods during Lent, it is known as the "butter tower".
© Patrick Muller / Centre des monuments nationaux
Unusual interior architecture
The design defined by the "Master of Bourges" (the name of the master builder is unknown) is exceptional for its time, both in plan and elevation. The plan is striking for its astonishing simplicity. A long rectangle terminating in a semicircle to the east, a large vessel not intersected by a transept (so the cathedral is not cross-shaped), and a five-level pyramidal structure that lets the light flood into the building.
© Patrick Müller / Centre des monuments nationaux
The cathedral in figures
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73,45 m Width of western façade with abutment pillar
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5 900 m2 Surface area
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120 m Length
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41 m Width
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37,15 m Height under central vault
What to see
Beautiful stained glass windows
The cathedral boasts a rare collection of stained glass windows dating from the 13th to 17th centuries , including the magnificent 15th-century Annunciation window in the Chapelle Jacques Cœur. The 16th-century windows by Jean Lescuyer, the great Renaissance master glassworker from Berry, can be seen in the Tullier and Copin chapels.
The fame of Bourges' stained-glass windows is mainly due to the 13th-century windows in the ambulatory. The variety and intensity of their colors, and their religious and historical interest, make this one of the richest collections in the world, on a par with Chartres. With the exception of "The Good Samaritan", these stained glass windows are read from bottom to top and from left to right , as in the magnificent "Prodigal Son" and "Passion of Christ" windows.
Many other treasures to discover...
Don't forget to admire the great 17th-century organ , the astronomical clock built in 1424 and its solar and lunar calendars, the gnomon as well as the reconstructed rood screen and the tomb of Duke Jean de Berry , now on display in the crypt.
© Pascal Lemaître / Centre des monuments nationaux
