Cathédrale Saint-Léonce - Fréjus, France - Cathedrals on Waymarking.com

[FR] La cathédrale possède deux nefs accolées à la suite de modifications successives pendant des siècles. L'abside est semi-circulaire voûtée et dans un style dit « cul-de-four ». Au XIIe siècle, un premier clocher-porche se trouvait à l'entrée dans la première travée de la nef Notre-Dame. Le clocher actuel date du XIIIe siècle.

Au sud-ouest de la cathédrale se trouve un baptistère paléochrétien, le plus ancien de France après celui de Poitiers puisqu'il date du Ve siècle et c'est l'un des mieux conservés.

Le cloître roman à deux étages date du XIIe siècle. L'accès du cloître canonial se fait par la place qui se trouve sur le côté de la cathédrale. Le cloître étant au nord-est de celle-ci. Auparavant, les religieux pouvaient y accéder plus facilement en sortant de la nef et en montant des escaliers sur la droite. Les plafonds des galeries sont en menuiseries du XIVe siècle, avec de jolies arcades retombant sur des colonnettes doubles. Elles sont peintes et décorées de personnages, d'animaux, et un bestiaire fantastique à travers plus de trois cents panneaux de pins.

[EN] The baptistery of the cathedral is a fine example of Merovingian architecture. It was built in the 5th century but hidden during later reconstruction, and was rediscovered in 1925 by French architect Jules Formigé. It is considered the oldest Christian structure in Provence, and one of the oldest in France.

The cathedral is located close to what appears to have been the Roman forum of Fréjus; the ruins of monumental buildings have been found next to the cathedral under the garden of the former hospital, now the Palais de Justice. It was also near the cardo maximus, the principal north-south axis of Roman towns; its walls were aligned with the sites of earlier Roman villas; and elements of Roman buildings, such as columns and walls, were incorporated into its structure.

The cathedral contains two naves, one of which belonged to the bishop, and the other to the local parish, side by side under the same roof, separated by arches. This arrangement was not unique in Provence; it is also found in Aix Cathedral and Apt Cathedral.

The cloister, which served as a place of meditation for the bishop and the dozen canons who served him, was built in the 13th century on the north side of the cathedral. It consists of pointed arches resting on double Corinthian columns.

An upper level was added to the cloister between 1350 and 1360, reached by a monumental stairway. The builders added a wooden ceiling to the lower level and decorated the brightly painted panels with biblical scenes, fantastic animals, and scenes of daily life. Only half of the paintings remain today, and the bright colours have been faded by oxidation, but they provide a remarkable look at medieval life and the medieval imagination.

Address: 58 Rue de Fleury, 83600 Fréjus Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic Date founded or constructed: 12th century Web site: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/27/2016 Narayan, visited it