This morning, Laurent must get the tiles of the terrace in Reims.
We take this opportunity to accompany him, despite the early hour: Johann can thus discover the cathedral of the coronation of the Kings of France.
Cathedral's apse
We went past the Municipal Library of Reims
 |
| Johann and Bohemond in front of cathedral's apse |
Today, Champagne's sky is absolutely sumptuous! From a pure blue and cloudless.
The cathedral stands on the azure sky and as it is rare, the photographer took advantage!
The towers, 267 ft. high, were originally designed to rise 394 ft.. The south tower contains two great bells, one which (named "Charlotte" by the Cardinal of Lorraine in 1570) weighs more than 11 tons.
The three portals of the west front are positively laden with medieval statues. The central portal, dedicated to the Virgin, is surmounted by a rose-window framed in an arch itself decorated with statuary. the "Gallery of the kings" above has the baptism of Clovis in the center, and statues of his successors.
The facades of the transepts are also decorated with sculptures.
The north transept has statues of the principal bishops of Reims, a representation of the Last Judgement and a figure of Jesus 'le "Beau Dieu", the Beautiful God).
The south transepts has a beautiful rose-window with the prophets and apostles.
In 1481, fire destroyed the roofs and the spires: of the four towers which flanked the transepts nothing remains above the height of the roof. Above the choir rises an elegant bell-tower in timber and lead, 59 ft. high, reconstructed in the 15th century.
A coronation of a french king to Reims
The West portal
Boys pose under the statue of the famous Smiling Angel, a masterpiece of medieval sculpture
L'Ange au Sourire
The Smiling Angel
It has the richest collection of sculptures of any cathedral. Decorated with 2,303 sculptured motifs, Reims Cathedral is the only church to have angels with unfurled wings, including the famous Smiling Angel on the left portal of the facade. The richness of the sculptures in Reims is renowned. Never before had artists managed give such life to sculptures.
It is, however, difficult to understand the essence of the message delivered by the statutes of such a complex monument, or to discern a single style in a building constructed over three centuries.
Reims is the cathedral of coronations. Twenty-nine Kings of France were crowned in Reims between 1027 and 1825, in the initial Carolingian building or in the cathedral. The most famous Kings of the Middle-Ages (Philip II Augustus, Louis IX – Saint Louis -, Philip IV (the Fair), Charles VII), the Renaissance (Francis I) and the Classical Period (Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI), as well as the last Bourbon of the Restoration (Charles X) were crowned in Reims. The ritual of the ceremony evolved over the centuries. The King received the insignia of the Knight, the golden spurs and sword which made him the secular arm of the Church. Prostrate before the Archbishop, he was anointed with the holy oil of the Holy Ampulla, on the head, on the chest, between the shoulders and on each shoulder, on the elbows and on the hands. He then received the ring, the sceptre and the hand of justice.
Since it was blessed by the Archbishop of Reims, Aubry de Humbert, on 6 May 1211, the cathedral has been a constant witness to the History of France. Burnt down on 19 September 1914 and bombed for four years, the cathedral was very badly damaged, like the city, which was 85% destroyed.
In July 1962, General Charles de Gaulle and Chancellor Conrad Adenauer sealed the reconciliation of France and Germany in Reims.
Around the cathedral
The Gardens of the Tau Palace
the former residence of the bishops of Reims
Transformed at the end of the 17th century by Jules Hardouin-Mansart (the architect who drew the plans of Versailles Castle) and Robert de Cotte, the Tau Palace still holds rooms that have retained their medieval aspect.
Between the Tau Palace and the Cathedral, the Palatine Chapel (13th century) has retained its Gothic architectural style too.
Now a museum, the Palace of Tau hosts the royal treasury's most remarkable objects : Charlemagne's Talisman (9th century), Saint Remi's Chalice (12th century), the Holy Ampulla (la Sainte-Ampoule) who contains the holy oil with which new kings were anointed during the coronation ceremony. |
| Saint Remi's Chalice |
 |
| Charlemagne's Talisman |
 |
| The Holy Ampulla - la Sainte-Ampoule |
