Bourges Cathedral

Late afternoon sun in Bourges. The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for a 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time, when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324.

The western facade, seen here, was finished by 1270. It is very wide (42m), as the four side aisles and central nave each have their own portal. The cathedral´s two western towers grew up very slowly. The northern tower, finally completed in the 15th century, collapsed in 1506, destroying the northern portion of the facade. The tower and the portal were rebuilt later in a more contemporary style.

Since 1992 the cathedral is a "UNESCO World Heritage Site". Pilgrims, following the Via Lemovicenis, have been here already in the early times. I got the "tampon" stamped in my "credencial" here in 2006.