Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Cathédrale Saint-Mammès

In the backdrop are the two towers of the Cathédrale Saint-Mammès. To the very left the statue of Denis Diderot, the most notable person, that ever came from Langres. Diderot was a philosopher, scientist, writer and co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean d'Alembert. Denis Diderot was a prominent figure during the Enlightenment. It seems like his family by now runs the boulangerie to the right.

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 cathedrals in Sens (200kms east) and Saint Denis (300kms northwest) were already under construction. The erection of the cathedral began with the choir, that was probably influenced by Cluny III. It was completed in 1196. The nave, following the example of the cathedral in Sens, was done in an early Gothic style. The "Christ au Tombeau" originally belonged to a a sculpted group of eight figures. It is ascribed to Dutch Claus de Werve (1380 - 1439), nephew and apprentance of master-sculptor Claus Sluter, the most important northern European sculptor of his time. The frescoe behind depicts the Crucification of Saint Andrew. It is dated to the 14th century. It was found in 1943 after an explosion had destroyed the wooden panels and the plaster that had hidden the frescoe.

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 cathedrals in Sens (200kms east) and Saint Denis (300kms northwest) were already under construction. The erection began in the east with the choir, that was probably influenced by Cluny III. The cathedral was completed and dedicated in 1196. The nave, probably following the example of the cathedral in Sens, was done in an early Gothic style. The total (interior) length of the cathedral is more than 90 meters. The cathedral has a large ambulatory. The entrance is guarded by a statue of Jeanne d'Arc.

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 cathedrals in Sens (200kms east) and Saint Denis (300kms northwest) were already under construction. The erection began in the east with the choir, that was probably influenced by Cluny III. The cathedral was completed and dedicated in 1196. The nave, probably following the example of the cathedral in Sens, was done in an early Gothic style. The total (interior) length of the cathedral is more than 90 meters.

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).