Meaux Cathedral

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View of the cathedral along one of the narrow streets of Meaux

Meaux Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Meaux) is a Roman Catholic cathedral, and a national monument of France, in the town of Meaux, in the department of Seine-et-Marne, east of Paris. It is the seat of the Bishop of Meaux.

Construction of the cathedral began in the 12th century, but was not completed until the 16th century. Defects in the original design and construction had to be corrected in the 13th century, in which the architect Gautier de Vainfroy was much involved. In the later 13th century work was often interrupted due to lack of funds, a problem removed by the generosity of Charles IV in the early 14th century. Further progress was interrupted by the Hundred Years' War and occupation by the English.

The composer Pierre Moulu worked at the cathedral in the early 16th century.

The design of the cathedral, because of its construction period, encompasses several periods of Gothic art. The cathedral rises to a height of 48 meters; inside, the vaults at the choir rise to 33 meters. The interior ornamentation is noted for its smoothness, and the space for its overall luminosity. The cathedral contains a famous organ, built in the 17th century.

[edit] References

Dictionnaire des églises de France, Belgique, Luxembourg, Suisse (Tome IV-D). pp. 104-106. Robert Laffont: Paris.
Esquieu, Yves, 1994: Quartier cathédral. Rempart / Desclée de Brouwer: Paris. ISBN 2-904365-23-0