154 Marseilles Cathedral- lots of mosaics and domes

-

Marseilles Cathedral- lots of mosaics and domes

Byzantine and neo-romanesque cathedral (lots of mosaics and domes and different coloured stone from Italy, Tunisia and France), opened by Napoleon the third in the second half of the 19th century. It is one of very few 19th century cathedrals in the country.

Extremely imaginative recent crucifix in blue, fabulous fancy canopy on the altar, banjo playing gilded angel, complicated traditional crib at Christmas.

Saint Eugène de Mazenode has his tomb here, so you know where to come to invoke the chap.

 










































Posts les plus consultés de ce blog

50. Montreal, Basilica of Notre Dame. Coolest Gothic revival pulpit

-
Image
  Montreal, Basilica of Notre Dame. Coolest Gothic revival pulpit   The wikipedia article says that the interior of the church is « one of the most dramatic in the world », and dead Gothic. Gets eleven million visitors a year, and last year I was one of them. My favourite ever pulpit. If you’re gonna preach   Good News About Eternal Life, you might as well do it perched on some decent furniture.   The stained glass windows here don’t bother with Bible stories, but depict scenes from the history of Montreal.   The other major highlight is the extra chapel behind the altar  through a corridor, which is has a modern bronze altar piece which is totally stunning. It represents humanity’s journey towards God, passing through childhood, adulthood and old age. In this chapel, the Stations of the Cross are well worth a look.   Information in French Information in English Information in Armenian  
Read more »

118 Lincoln UK, Lincoln Cathedral : where shall I have my entrails buried ?

-
Image
  118 Lincoln UK, Lincoln Cathedral : where shall I have my entrails buried ? It feels like Lincoln cathedral is nowhere near as well-known as is York Minster, and I am told that this is because Lincoln is not on the way to anywhere. In any case the cathedral is spectacular and not to be missed (And thanks to Terry for driving us out there). Apparently John Ruskin reckoned: "that the cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have." The guided tour was worth every penny.   Naturally, the architecture (all started in the 11th century) is what people are most impressed by (especially magical square towers, ceiling vaults and rose windows), but there are a number of other elements I loved. I have seen one whole bunch of sets of Stations of the Cross, but this is the most original (and rather modernist)   set I have ever seen. Now, the stories ...
Read more »

123 Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Normandy : Our Lady of the Holy Parachutes

-
Image
  I visit a lot of churches and see a lot of modern art in them, but the stained glass windows of Our Lady with parachutists landing in the background were definitely a first. But perhaps you remember the name of the village Sainte-Mère-Eglise, from the film with John Wayne. Yes, this was the village chosen for the parachute squads to drop in, a few hours before the Normandy landings (because it was in the right place). This is the church whose spire one of the paratroopers got his parachute hooked on. The Germans took him prisoner, and he survived. To this day there is a model of him hanging on to the spire by parachute (You can just see in one of the photos). Apart from the stained glass, there is a fine rood cross (that is to say one high above the altar, in the air), and and admirably chunky lectern. When I was there there was a collection of children’s drawings displayed, on the theme of peace. The church was started in the 12th century, and is actually called Our lady of ...
Read more »