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Reims Cathedral

Reims Cathedral
Reims Cathedral
Reims Cathedral
Reims Cathedral

General Information

Structural Type: Rib vault
Function / usage: Cathedral
Architectural style: Gothic
Other name(s): Cathédrale Notre-Dame
Built: 1211 - 1427
Status: in use

Geographic Information & Related Structures

Location: Reims, Marne (51), Champagne-Ardenne, France, Europe

Technical Information

Dimensions

total length 149.17 m
building area 6 650 m2
interior length 138 m
width of western façade 48.80 m
nave height 38 m
width of nave 14.65 m
northern rose diameter 9.65 m
southern rose diameter 9.65 m
tower tower height 81.50 m
transept length 61 m
width of transept 30.70 m
western rose diameter 12.5 m

Materials

arches stone
columns stone
walls stone
vault masonry

Chronology

1210

Fire destroys the 12th century cathedral
1211 - 1221

Jean d'Orbais builds the first level of the choir, the ambulatory and the adjoining chapels.
5 May 1211

Laying of the corner stone by the Archbishop Aubry de Humbert.
ca. 1220

Villard de Honnecourt visits the site and sketches the construction site in his album.
1220 - 1233

Construction of the transept up to the rose and the last spans of the nave.
1230

The chapter acquires the terrain for the construction of the western façade.
1233 - 1235

Populace revolts. Construction is halted.
8 September 1241

The chapter solemnly enters the choir (choir, western spans of the nave, northern portal and vaulted transepts).
ca. 1252

Beginning of the construction of the western façade under Jean le Loup.
ca. 1256

Gaucher de Reims succeeds to Jean le Loup for 8 years. Puts the statues on the western façade and completes the backside of the portals.
1270 - 1280

Construction of the rose level and the vaults of the 5 first spans of the nave.
1285

Interior of the cathedral is finished.
1299

Completion of the main structure up to the base of the gallery of Kings and beginning of the roof under Robert de Coucy.
1300 - 1350

Construction of the gallery of the Kings.
1430

Works on the upper parts of the western towers by Collard de Givry.
1445

Completion of the south-eastern tower.
1460

Completion of the north-eastern tower.
24 July 1481

A fire destroys the spire crossing and the roofing.
1485

Completion of the steeple of the Angel.
1492

Restoration of the wooden roof.
1497 - 1515

Restoration of the gables of the transept.
1500 - 1504

Construction of the southern gable.
1505

Restoration of the upper galleries of the nave.
1516

The chapter decides not to build the four other towers, gables and seven steeples.
1580

Destruction of the southern rose in a storm.
1611 - 1612

First restoration of the western portals.
1737 - 1740

Reparation of the western façade and sculptures.
1825 - 1830

Second restoration of the western portals.
1845 - 1860

Restoration of the higher levels (galleries, gables, towers) by Arveuf.
1850 - 1879

Works on the apse under Viollet-le-Duc.
1875 - 1880

Restoration of the galleries by Millet and Ruprich-Robert.
19 October 1914

First bombardment with flame bombs against the cathedral. The building is hit by 300 bombs up to 1918.
1919

Rockefeller donation for the restoration of the cathedral.
1926

Reconstruction of the concrete framing by Henri Deneux.
1937

Rededication of the cathedral.
1988

End of the renovation of the northern façade.
1996

End of the restoration of the arching of the great portal.
Visit of pope John Paul II for the 1500th anniversary of the baptism of Clovis by Saint Remi.
1998

End of the restoration of the north-western tower.

Participants

Renovation

Relevant Web Sites

Relevant Publications

Internal Information

Structure-ID: s0000273
Created: 21/05/1999
Last Updated: 05/03/2013