Noyon Cathedral
West front of Noyon Cathedral. Photo
James Mitchell.
The fine east end praised by Stevenson. Photo
Heinz Theuerkauf.
Interior view. Photo
James Mitchell.
Tall side aisle. Photo
James Mitchell.
Nave vault. Photo
James Mitchell.
Location map and aerial view of Noyon Cathedral. For a larger interactive view, see our France Map.
"I have seldom looked on the east-end of a church with more complete sympathy."
Robert Louis Stevenson, An Inland Voyage
Noyon Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Noyon) is an impressive Transitional cathedral of the 12th and 13th centuries in northern France.
History
Noyon has long been a religious center - the present cathedral is the fifth to be built on this site. Both Charlemagne (768) and Hugh Capet (987) were coronated in Noyon Cathedral.
Begun in 1150 and completed by 1290, the present Noyon Cathedral replaced a predecessor that was destroyed by fire in 1131. It is considered a harmonious example of the transition from the Romanesque to Gothic style, and is one of the earliest Gothic cathedrals to be built in France.
What to See
Noyon Cathedral suffered much damage during the Revolution, and little decoration remains in the interior. One exception is a very rare 14th-century chancel screen and some medieval furnishings.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94) much admired Noyon Cathedral during his visit to the city. Of its east end he wrote:
"As it flanges out in three wide terraces and settles down broadly on the earth, it looks like the poop of some great old battle-ship. Hollow-backed buttresses carry vases, which figure for the stern lanterns. There is a roll in the ground, and the towers just appear above the pitch of the roof, as though the good ship were bowing lazily over an Atlantic swell."
Surrounding the cathedral is a complete cathedral quarter, which includes five main buildings: the refectory, with its cellar and loft; the episcopal prison and courtroom; the chapter-house (at present the sacristy); the treasury; and the chapter library.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | Noyon Cathedral; Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Noyon; Cathédrale de Noyon |
| Location: | Noyon, France |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Dedication: | Virgin Mary |
| Category: | Cathedrals |
| Architecture: | Transitional, Gothic |
| Date: | 1150-1290 |
| Status: | active |
| Visitor Information | |
| Address: | Rue du Portail Saint-Eutrope 60400, Noyon, France |
| Coordinates: | 49.581944° N, 3.000791° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | 03 44 44 21 88 (Noyon tourism office) |
Article Sources
- Eyewitness Travel Guide to France 2005.
- La Cathédrale de Noyon - Noyon Tourisme
- La Cathédrale de Noyon - Culture.fr
More Information
- "Ch. 17: Noyon Cathedral" from An Inland Voyage by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Noyon Cathedral Photos - Digital Imaging Project
Last updated on July 30, 2010.
