Cathédrale Saint-André
ChurchHidden Treasure
Cathédrale Saint-André, located in Bordeaux (Gironde), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Bordeaux, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8377, -0.5778
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00083160
A Gothic jewel of Bordeaux, the cathédrale Saint-André raises its twin spires in the heart of the city, housing a royal portal from the 13th century and the mysterious tour Pey Berland, built apart like a stone sentinel.
History
In the heart of Bordeaux, Saint-André cathedral stands out as one of the most striking Gothic monuments in south-western France. Built over several centuries, it combines the rigour of southern Gothic with the grace of the great cathedrals of the north, forming an architectural ensemble of rare coherence. Its silhouette, dominated by two slender bell towers on the chevet side, can be seen at every turn in the narrow streets of the Saint-Pierre district, offering ever-changing views. What really sets Saint-André apart from its French sisters is the singularity of its bell tower: the Pey Berland tower, built in the 15th century, stands not against the nave but a few dozen metres away, as if it wanted to free itself from the mass of the cathedral. Crowned with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary added in the 19th century, it dominates the roofs of Bordeaux with a quiet authority. Together, the cathedral and the tower form an architectural dialogue that is unique in France. Inside, you'll find a blend of contemplation and wonder. The impressively high central nave is bathed in light filtered through the stained glass windows created or restored under the aegis of Paul Abadie in the 19th century. The medieval frescoes from the 14th century, preserved in the choir and side chapels, bear witness to a refined polychromy that contrasts with the bare limestone of the pillars. The royal portal, sculpted in the 13th century on the north side, is one of the most precious examples of Gothic sculpture in Aquitaine. The cathedral has played a central role in the life of Bordeaux for centuries. A pilgrimage site on the route to Santiago de Compostela and witness to the marriage of Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine, it has survived wars, revolutions and restorations without ever losing its aura. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, whether believers or just lovers of history and architecture.
Architecture
Saint-André cathedral is part of the Southern Gothic architectural style, which differs from the Northern Gothic style in that its naves are wider, its elevations less dizzying and its light more diffused, filtered through less developed openings. The plan is that of a classical Latin cross, with a five-bay central nave flanked by aisles, a projecting transept and a vast Gothic choir with an ambulatory and radiating chapels. The total length of the building is around 124 metres, with a transept width of 47 metres, making Saint-André one of the largest cathedrals in France in terms of surface area. The exterior is notable for its two towers framing the eastern apse, built in the 14th and 15th centuries in a flamboyant Gothic style of great elegance, with pinnacles, gargoyles and bays with complex infills. The royal north portal, dating from the mid-thirteenth century, is the sculpted jewel of the building: its tympanum depicts the Last Supper and the Ascension in narrative compositions of remarkable finesse, surrounded by splayed windows lined with statues of saints with expressive faces. The Pey Berland tower, erected some twenty metres from the cathedral, rises to a height of 66 metres and offers an exceptional panoramic view of Bordeaux from its platform. Inside, the 13th-century Gothic nave is striking for the breadth of its pointed vaults resting on finely crafted tapered pillars. The later choir, with its large arcades, delicate mouldings and historiated stained glass windows, is considered to be one of the finest examples of Bordeaux Gothic architecture. The 14th-century frescoes, partially restored by Abadie, bear witness to an ambitious iconographic programme combining hagiographic scenes and figures of the patron saints of Aquitaine.
Related Figures
Aliénor d'Aquitaine — duchesse d'Aquitaine, y épousa Louis VII en 1137, l'un des mariages les plus influents du Moyen ÂgeLouis VII — roi de France, époux d'Aliénor lors de la célèbre union célébrée dans la cathédrale en 1137Pey Berland — archevêque de Bordeaux (1430-1456), commanditaire de la tour campanaire qui porte son nomPaul Abadie — architecte du XIXe siècle, maître d'œuvre de la grande campagne de restauration (1850-1870), futur concepteur du Sacré-Cœur de ParisEugène Viollet-le-Duc — inspecteur général des monuments historiques contemporain d'Abadie, dont les théories restauratrices influencèrent les travaux bordelaisGuillaume de Solers — archevêque de Bordeaux au XIIIe siècle sous lequel fut lancée la reconstruction gothique majeure de la cathédrale
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cathédrale Saint-André located?
Cathédrale Saint-André is located in Bordeaux, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Cathédrale Saint-André built?
Cathédrale Saint-André dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Cathédrale Saint-André open to visitors?
Cathédrale Saint-André is currently closed to visitors.