Clermont-Ferrand - Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption

The first cathedral on this place was built already within the 5th century. This church was destroyed by Pepin the Short, who a couple of years later financed the reconstruction.

This second structure here was destroyed by the Normans in 915. The third (romanesque) cathedral, was consecrated in 946. This building probably served as the model and prototype for many churches in the Auvergne.

After a trip to Paris, the bishop was so enthusiastic about the the new gothic cathedrals being built in the north, that he had the romanesque cathedral was demolished - and in 1248 the construction of this cathedral started.

It took hundreds of years - and actually never got completed. During the French Revolution the revolutionaries wanted to tear down the church, but they could be persuaded to use it as a gathering place. So only some the transept towers and the complete furniture and interior decoration got lost. Finally in 1866 the completion works began. In 1884, the western façade with its spires and the last span of the nave were finally completed.

Standing in the nave, facing east to the choir, where the bright morning light bursts in. The cathedral is nearly 100 meters long. The choir was finished in 1287. When Louis IX of France (aka "Louis the Saint") came to Clermont marry his son Philipp (later Philipp III, aka "Philipp the Bold") to Isabella of Aragon. Probably taking this occasion the king financed part of the stained glass windows that may be from the same workshop as those in Sainte-Chapelle.

Under the choir is a crypt, that dates back into the 10th century. The crypt is made up of an ambulatory and radiating chapels. It was this crypt, that I wanted to visit, as I had read, that it was a kind of model for other crypts in the Auvergne. I had been here before, but then the crypt was closed. It was not my lucky day - it was closed again.