- The Notre-Dame d'Amiens cathedral will celebrate its 800th anniversary with many events.
- With its 7,800 m2, the cathedral is the largest in France.
- Its construction, in less than 70 years, was particularly rapid in the 13th century.
It hasn't aged a bit, however, Notre-Dame d'Amiens is celebrating its 800th anniversary. Built from 1220, this gem of medieval Gothic art is still very popular with tourists in the 21st century. The tourist office takes advantage of this anniversary to multiply the activities around this edifice more singular than it seems.
Despite the lack of texts and archaeological excavations, historians believe that it is built on the remains of an old Romanesque cathedral, destroyed by lightning in 1218. "The project was to build a much larger church" explains Aurélien André , archivist of the diocese of Amiens at 20 Minutes .
Amiens, prosperous town in the 13th century
"In 1220, the city of Amiens experienced the greatest economic prosperity in present-day Picardy". The income generated by agricultural land, notably the cultivation of wheat, enriched the bourgeoisie. Anecdotally, the use of the ged (species of plant) to color the sheets, also contributed to the income of the city.
According to Aurélien André, "Amiens was one of the main cities in the kingdom". Following the collapse of the Romanesque cathedral, construction of the religious building was quickly started. The economic context of the city, the wealth of the Church and the donations of the faithful made it possible to erect the cathedral in just 68 years. By way of comparison, two centuries were necessary to erect Notre-Dame de Paris.
Largest medieval Gothic cathedral in France
Built to be much larger than the previous one, Notre-Dame d'Amiens is still the largest Gothic cathedral in France today. Its 7,800 m2 makes this very ambitious building the largest medieval volume in the world. Thanks to the speed of its construction, the stones and sculptures are particularly harmonious, something rare for such an old building.
In 1220, Notre-Dame was important not only in the city of Amiens but also in the whole diocese. The faithful also gather on a skull that legend attributes to Saint John the Baptist. Listed as a historic monument in France since 1862, Amiens Cathedral has been listed since 1981 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 2020, the cathedral of Amiens therefore celebrates the 800 years of its construction. Around 600,000 come to visit this gem of medieval art each year. The monument thus ranks among the 10 most visited cathedrals in France. To celebrate this anniversary, the city of Amiens will offer light shows and concerts to the public all year round. The University of Picardy Jules Verne will organize historic conferences.
Lille
Prince William will come to the cathedral on August 8 for a commemoration
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- Society
- Picardie
- Cathedral
- Amiens
- Middle Ages