Auxerre - Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Auxerre

Auxerre was a Gallo-Roman centre, then called Autissiodorum. Here the Via Agrippa crossed the Yonne river. It became the seat of a bishop already in the 3rd century. In the 5th century, it received a cathedral.

Wine cultivations starting from the twelfth century made Auxerre a flourishing town. Auxerre suffered during the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion. In 1567 it was captured by the Huguenots, and many of the Catholic edifices were damaged.

The Cathédrale Saint-Étienne is actually the 5th on the spot.

The erection started in 1215 around the same time when the building of the cathedrals in Reims and Amiens started. The choir was completed in 1235. The cathedral is known for the stained glass of the choir windows, created ~ 1250. At the same time, the construction of the facade began. Around 1300, construction started on the southern arm of the transept.

The sculptured portal is dated to around 1320. The nave was built from around 1320–1350, but the Hundred Years' War slowed the work down and delayed the completion of the south aisle until 1378. The north transept and the towers had not begun at the beginning of the 15th century. In 1478, the nave was vaulted and in 1500 work on the north tower began and was completed after 43 years. The south tower was never completed.

Seen here is the portal of the transept.

See a detail of one of the stained glass window in the PiP.