Architecture and aesthetic features of the Amiens Cathedral

Amiens Cathedral is one of the most valuable examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. This magnificent temple is located in the city of Amiens (France), in a conspicuous place, in an area known as the "Colored Valley of France".

City of Amiens

This city is in the north, almost half way between Belgium and Paris, on the Somme River, 55 km from the English Channel (southeast). Amiens is a hospitable, spacious, bright city, located among the greenery of the gardens and waters of the Somme Canal, which cuts it into many blocks. It was rebuilt after the destruction caused during World War II almost from scratch and is now a major center for the production of footwear and textiles, machinery and metallurgy, and the food industry. To unhurried long walks have boulevards with lime alleys. Jules Vern not for nothing decided to make this corner a backwater, where he almost daily went to the imagined distant countries.

Channels around Amiens Cathedral

This cathedral is a cathedral, belonging to the Catholic episcopacy. The whole area around it is dotted with canals. They make up entire networks. 55 kilometers is their total length. These canals were dug several centuries ago by the Romans. The cathedral since 1981 is under the protection of UNESCO, as it is a World Heritage site. The French city of Amiens, in addition, is known for other religious monuments, of which there are many.

History of construction

The cathedral of interest was built in honor of St. Mary. It is also known as the Cathedral of Amienska. However, most people still prefer the common name. This is the largest cathedral in Europe. It is also one of the largest Gothic churches in the world.

Amiens Cathedral was built on the site of an old building, which in 1218 was burnt by lightning. According to the inscription on the remains of the "labyrinth", destroyed in 1825, its construction was started from the western end in 1220. In 1236 the naves were finished in rough. The choir is in 1247, but it suffered a fire shortly after completion. He adopted his final form in 1269. In the 13th century the western facade was brought to the rose. However, in the 15th century it was renewed. At the same time, its upper parts were completed.

According to the inscriptions of the "labyrinth," the builders were three masters: Tom de Cormon, along with his son, Rene de Cormon, as well as Robert of Luzarsch. They worked in the period from 1220 to 1228, that is, at the same time, when other masters erected the Reims cathedral. The buttresses of the first tier were enlarged at the end of the 13th century, and the gaps between them became chapels.

Architecture of the Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral served as a model for the construction of Amiens. It is a three-nave basilica with a developed choral part and a wide transept. The choral part of the cathedral is surrounded by the chapel crown. Their number reaches seven. The middle one is strongly forward. Three naves have a transept. As in Chartres, the center of the environment is the same as the middle of the building in such a structure as the Amiens Cathedral. His plan, however, differs somewhat from Chartres.

The cathedral in Amiens is the largest of all located in France. Its length (inside) is 118 meters (without an average serving chapel), and the average nave in height reaches 42.3 meters. The width of the naves (excluding the side chapels) is 33 meters, the transept is 59 meters, and the chorus part is 48 meters.

This cathedral has the same relation between the width of the middle and side naves of the main "ship", as in Reims. It is approximately 9:14. But in the Reims cathedral, the grass of the side naves has a square shape, and in Amiens they are rectangular (about 9x7 m). 14 meters is the width of the middle nave.

The interior in the cathedral of Amiens is one. It smoothly opens upward, deeper, in all directions. The composition of the middle nave is extremely simple: its overall height divides the cornice of the first tier in half. Longitudinal arcade, high raised, occupies the lower half. At an altitude of 18 meters its castle roots are located, while only 9.5 m is the height of the arcade of the famous Paris cathedral.

The southern tower was built around 1366, and the northern tower was built in 1401. The Gothic architecture of this cathedral, even by today's standards, remains unsurpassed. Amiens Cathedral, together with Reims and Chartres, forms the Holy Trinity of the churches of France, which were named after the results of voting by the 13th century classics and high Gothic.

The architectural plan of the building of interest to us is similar to the other Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages, including the Parisian Notre Dame. Visitors today have a unique opportunity to climb the west tower, located on the roof of the building, and enjoy from there a breathtaking view of the cities of France.

The gates of Amiens

The central entrance to the cathedral of Amiens was called the gate of the Last Judgment. The walls of this building are decorated with various religious scenes depicting the resurrection of the dead, cursed and saved by God, as well as the apocalyptic human Son with two swords coming out of his mouth, etc. The gates on the west facade, on the right, are dedicated to the Virgin Mary. She is the patroness of this cathedral. On the left side of the gates of this facade are dedicated to the first Amiens bishop, Saint Firmin.

Light show

From December 1 to January 1, along with Christmas, the cathedral in the light show is covered with very beautiful lights. The evening furnishings are complemented by magical shadows, music and playing light. Usually for 45 minutes, while the program lasts, you can observe a magnificent spectacle. This is a multi-colored highlight and the colored facade of the Amiens Cathedral. This game of light and shadow is definitely worth a look. In addition to the facade itself, one after another the sculptures on the west facade of the Amiens Cathedral are illuminated.

The relics of John the Baptist inside the cathedral

This business card of the city of Amiens is breathtaking. Once inside, you understand that not only the exterior decoration differs magnificence. Inside this cathedral are the relics of John the Baptist. In the walls of it, the head of this saint is carefully preserved as a source of healing and the main goal of the pilgrimage of many believers. It was thanks to these relics, according to the old-timers, that Amiens Cathedral remained unharmed during the Nazi bombings. Approaching its walls, the projectiles changed the trajectory and thus flew by.

When Christmas is celebrated, thousands of parishioners gather under the arches of this cathedral. Many of them come here from different parts of the globe.

Sculptures inside

It is impossible to describe in words the splendor of the temple. The cathedral, a slender tower ensemble piercing the sky, is filled with a sweet sound. Sifted with colored stained-glass windows, soft rainbow light casts iridescent glare on the environment, located in the center of the hall. The abundance of sculptures on biblical themes emphasizes the elegance of the facade lines. Their total number is approximately 4500. Nevertheless, the Amiens Cathedral in France in the use of sculptural ornaments is not as rich as Rheimsky. He is also inferior to the latter in their quality. However, the portals of the Amiens Cathedral have several beautiful statues, in the general interpretation and proportions of which there is a desire for realism and psychological expressiveness.

Exceptional for its refinement and beauty sculpture "Golden Madonna". She is a real diamond in a tiara. In the rays of the sun, this sculpture radiates a tranquil radiance. The master in this creation managed to express beauty, naivety and spiritual purity. Above Madonna there are figures of the apostles. All figures are given natural postures. All of them talk among themselves (the apostles - in pairs, Maria - with the baby), realistic, alive.

The figure of Christ, located in the middle of the middle portal, stands out with its correct proportions and majestic simplicity. In the people it is sometimes called "the beautiful God of Amiens".

The socle zone of the portals is decorated with many medallions, in which there are reliefs with months of the year, signs of the zodiac, etc.

History of Gothic

Gothic style originated in the middle of the 12th century in France. The most significant of his works in this country are the cathedrals of Reims, Amiens and Chartres. In France, there are a huge number of monuments belonging to the Gothic style, from huge cathedrals to chapels. In the 15th century the period of "flaming Gothic" came, only some of which have survived to this day. This, for example, the Parisian tower of Saint-Jacques and the Rouen Cathedral (one of its portals).

Features of the Gothic Amiens Cathedral

From the disunity and closure of the space of Romanesque buildings to the unification of various spatial elements and the freedom to interpret them, as noted in the Paris cathedral, Gothic has traveled more than half a century. However, it was in the Amiens cathedral that she came to construct a space that was classical for her. It freed itself in all dimensions from technical restraint, while preserving the tectonic clarity, as well as the constructive certainty of the lines, volumes and masses surrounding it. Feeling of freedom, which creates space, plastic expressiveness in the cathedral of the supporting elements, diffused light, giving softness to the voluminous forms - all this creates the completeness of the composition of a building like the Amiens Cathedral. Aesthetic features of this temple allow us to call it one of the most beautiful and majestic structures in the world.

This cathedral is sometimes compared with the ancient Greek Parthenon. The highly artistic and rich decoration of the facades really puts it on a par with the greatest creations of world architecture.