Basilique de Saint-Sernin, Toulouse
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Saint-Sernin basilica located in Toulouse, France, was built during the Romanesque Period between AD 1080 and 1120. It is located on the site of a previous, 4th century basilica which contained the body of Saint Saturnin or Sernin. He was the first bishop of Toulouse in AD 250 and martyred by pagan priest who tied him by the feet to a bull which dragged him about the town until the rope broke.
Charlemagne donated some relics to the church which then became a major stopover for pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela and a pilgrimage location where important relics could be viewed. The current building was built to accommodate these pilgrims. In 1860, Viollet-le-Duc restored the church, but his changes are currently being removed again to restore the original appearance.
Despite being called a basilica, Saint-Sernin deviates from the basilica plan of early Christian architecture in a few ways. Saint-Sernin is much larger compared to earlier churches. It is also constructed mostly of brick. It is a cruciform, or cross-shaped building. The ceilings are vaulted, unlike many of the earlier churches. Saint-Sernin contains radiating chapels which were used to display important relics. Another deviation from the earlier Christian churches is the addition of an ambulatory, a walkway that goes around the nave and side aisles to allow for viewing of the radiating chapels (which could be done while mass was being held without interrupting the ceremony). For these and other reasons, Saint-Sernin is often said to follow the Pilgrimage Plan instead of the traditional Basilica plan.
[edit] Exterior
On the exterior, the bell tower is the most visible landmark. It stands right above the transept crossing. It is divided in five tiers, of which the lower three, with Romanesque arches, date from the 12th century and the upper two from the 14th century. The spire in its turn was added in the 15th century.
The chevet is the oldest part of the building, constructed in the 11th century, and consists of nine chapels, five from the apse and four in the transepts.
The exterior is furthermore known for two doorways, the Porte des Comtes and the Porte des Miégeville. Above the Porte des Comtes is a depiction of Lazarus and Dives. Dives can be seen above the central column being kept in hell. The doorway gets its name from a nearby alcove in which the remains of four Counts of Toulouse are kept. The Porte Miégeville is known for its elaborate sculpture above the entrance, a touchstone in Medieval culture.
[edit] Interior
- The interior of Saint-Sernin measures 115x64x21 meters, making it extremely vast for a Romanesque church. The central nave is barrel vaulted, the four aisles have rib vaults and are supported by buttresses.
- Right beneath the tower and the transept, there is a marble altar, consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096 and designed by Bernard Gilduin.
- The Cathedral houses one of the magna opera of Cavaillé-Coll, a pipe organ of three manuals completed in 1888. Together with the Cavaillé-Coll instruments at Saint-Sulpice in Paris and the Rouen Cathedral, it is considered to be one of the most important organs in France.
- In the crypt, a large number of relics is kept. They are on display in the crypt since the 17th century and consist of remains of saints.
- The patrons of Saint-Sernin are likely to have been a combination of clergy and local political leaders/ royalty.
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