Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Reims
| Reims Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Reims | |
| Notre-Dame de Reims | |
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| 49°15′13″N 4°2′3″E / 49.25361°N 4.03417°ECoordinates: 49°15′13″N 4°2′3″E / 49.25361°N 4.03417°E | |
| Location | 3 rue Guillaume de Machault Reims |
| Country | France |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Reims |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | French Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1211 |
| Completed | 1275 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 149.17 m |
| Floor area | 6,650 square meters |
| Number of towers | 2 |
| Tower height | 81 metres (266 ft) |
| Bells | 2 (in south tower) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Notre Dame |
| Archdiocese | Reims |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Thierry Jordan |
| Priest in charge | Jean-Pierre Laurent |
| Official name: Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau, Reims | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, vi |
| Designated | 1991 |
| Reference no. | 601 |
| State Party | France |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Session | 15th |
| Official name: Cathédrale Notre-Dame | |
| Designated | 1862, 1920 |
Notre-Dame de Reims (Our Lady of Reims) is the seat of the Archdiocese of Reims, where the kings of France were crowned. The cathedral replaced an older church, destroyed by fire in 1211, that was built on the site of the basilica where Clovis was baptized by Saint Remi, bishop of Reims, in AD 496. That original structure had itself been erected on the site of some Roman baths. A major tourism destination, the cathedral receives about one million visitors annually.
Excavations have shown that the present building occupies roughly the same site as the original cathedral, founded c.400 under the episcopacy of St Nicaise. That church was rebuilt during the Carolingian period and further extended in the 12th century. On 19 May 1051, King Henry I of France and Anne of Kiev were married in the cathedral. Whilst conducting the Council of Reims in 1131, Pope Innocent II anointed and crowned the future Louis VII in the cathedral.
On May 6, 1210 the cathedral was damaged by fire and reconstruction started shortly after, beginning at the eastern end. Documentary records show the acquisition of land to the west of the site in 1218, suggesting the new cathedral was substantially larger than its predecessors, the lengthening of the nave presumably being an adaptation to afford room for the crowds that attended the coronations. In 1233 a long-running dispute between the cathedral chapter and the townsfolk (regarding issues of taxation and legal jurisdiction) boiled over into open revolt. Several clerics were killed or injured during the resulting violence and the entire cathedral chapter fled the city, leaving it under an interdict (effectively banning all public worship and sacraments). Work on the new cathedral was suspended for three years, only resuming in 1236 after the clergy returned to the city and the interdict was lifted following mediation by the King and the Pope. Construction then continued more slowly. The area from the crossing eastwards was in use by 1241 but the nave was not roofed until 1299 (when the French King lifted the tax on lead used for that purpose). Work on the west facade took place in several phases, which is reflected in the very different styles of some of the sculptures. The upper parts of the facade were completed in the 14th century, but apparently following 13th century designs, giving Reims an unusual unity of style.
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