Mende Cathedral
The Cathedral's two bell towers were added between 1508 and 1512, the large bell tower rising 84 meters was commissioned by the Bishop François de la Rovère. The small bell tower was commissioned simultaneously by agreement of the Cathedral's administrative clergy who did not consult their Bishop on this matter. Standing at only 65 meters, it was intentionally left plain, in contrast to the other, more ornate tower.
The building was partially destroyed during the Wars of Religion by Mathieu Merle in 1581 and then rebuilt, "identically but without fashions or ornaments" between 1598 and 1620. Also destroyed in this incident was the great bell “Non-Pareille" (unrivalled) which was the largest bell known to exist when it was hung in the belfry in 1516. This bell could be heard in excess of ten miles. Only the bell's clapper survives, and is a local treasure.
Housed in the Cathedral are many other treasures of the Church, including Virgin of the Twelfth, A portrait of Pope Urbain the XIV, an original pipe organ and furnishings dated to the seventeenth century, and a Tapestry of Aubusson created in 1707.
References
- ^ "Mende Cathedral". Religiana. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
- ^ "French Revolution - National Constituent Assembly | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
- ^ "Patrimoine". Ville de Mende (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-25.
- ^ "A story of a bell: The No Equal was the biggest bell of all Christianity. South of France". Office de tourisme Mende - Cœur de Lozère. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
External links
- "Mende's Cathedral, monumental Gothic building in Gévaudan-Lozère, South France". Office de tourisme Mende - Cœur de Lozère.