Troyes - SAINT-PAUL CATHEDRAL

The construction of the present cathedral began around 1200 to end in the middle of the 16th century. It is a jewel of the Gothic style. Remarkable are the doors on the west facade and the north transept with its richly decorated doorway, the "Beau Portail", and its 15th century rose window are particularly fine examples of Gothic sculpture. The flamboyant west facade was constructed at the beginning of the 16th century by the great builder of cathedrals Martin Chambiges. The two square towers are in late Gothic style; the Saint-Paul Tower was left uncompleted in 1545. Troyes has been called by the specialists the “Sacred City of Stained Glass”. The SAINT-PIERRE SAINT-PAUL CATHEDRAL with its 1,500 sq m of stained glass from the 13th to 19th centuries is a magnificent example of the art of stained glass in Troyes. The most remarkable windows are the Assumption by Jean Sourdain (1523-1524), the bay window of the Immaculate Conception by Linard Gontier (1634) and the Mystical Winepress also by Linard Gontier. It might be useful to take binoculars to see details of the upper windows and to choose a sunny day to benefit at most from the magic of the coloured glass. The church houses an interesting treasure including The Hunt of Saint-Bernard de Clairvaux, and a beautiful collection of enamels (12th and 13th c.).It should be noted that the choir grill was removed in the 19th c. and now marks the entrance to a hall in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Open to the public: 1/10 to1/04 : 9-12h and 13-17h. Sunday 10-12h and 13-17h. Closed on Monday. 1/04 to 30/06 : 10-13h and 14-18h all days. 1/07 to 15/09 : 10-19h all days. Free.