Langres - Cathédrale Saint-Mammès

Langres is built on a promontory originally occupied by the Gauls and later by the Romans, who fortified the town and named it Andemantunum.

Langres was the center of a diocese already in the 4th century. Saint Didier de Langres was the 3rd bishop here. He got martyred, when the Vandals took the town in 407.

In medieval times the bishops were very powerful and so around 1140 it was decided to replace the old and small cathedral with a new one. At that time the cathedral in Sens was already under construction in Gothic style.

The erection began with the choir, seen here, probably influenced by Cluny III. The cathedral was completed and dedicated in 1196, only the vaults were added later.

After a fire 1562, caused by lightning, the cathedral was not properly rebuilt and when in 1746 the the west side threatened to collapse, itb was decided to demolish it. It then was rebuilt from 1761 to 1786 in the classical style (see the tower).