Cathedral of Lausanne

Built on the hill of the City, the Protestant cathedral Notre-Dame of Lausanne dominates the city.

It is a building built out of stone of size (Molasse), of Gothic style mainly , dating from the 13th century, that is to say at the time where the area, except the city which depended on évêché, was attached to the Comté of Savoy. It was devoted to the Virgin Mary under the term " Our-Dame" in October 1275 in the presence of the pope Gregoire X.

Its unusual plan, with the slightly tilted Apse compared to the axis of the Nave, was to reproduce Marie leaning the head on her child. With the Middle Ages, the cathedral of Lausanne was a high place of pilgrimage: 70.000 people approximately went there each year, whereas Lausanne counted only some 7000 inhabitants.

On arrival of the Berneses and with the adoption of the Protestant Reform, the building is dedicated in 1536 to the worship calvinist. He at that time knew some light dépradations, of which in particular disappearance of the cloister or certain furniture, like the famous statue of money and gold of the Virgin trônant with the Child (XIIe century) or part of the carved stalls. However the whole of the statuary undergoes few dépradations. There remain vestiges of architectural polychromy inside (in particular in the Notre-Dame vault) and especially in the fabulous " gate peint" (XIIIe century), one of most beautiful of Europe, whose exemplary restoration of the polychrome statues has just been completed in 2007.

Attached from now on to the parish " Chailly-Cathédrale" from Lausanne, the Protestant cathedral Notre-Dame accommodates regularly celebrations Oecuménique S, as well as cultural events (concerts). Some masses were also authorized and celebrated these last years, large open-minded of local clergy signs protesting. The gesture was appreciated much catholic community.

Still let us note, in addition to the painted gate, the stained glasses of the Pink of XIIIe century almost completely preserved. They take part largely of famous of the cathedral.

History

The construction of the current cathedral takes place of 1170 with 1235. It is the great time of constructions of cathedrals in Western Europe: one of most famous, that of Chartres (1194-1220), is thus contemporary cathedral of Lausanne.

The first work is done in the Romance style, but construction during several decades, the successive project superintendents adapt the style to the evolution of architecture and finally the cathedral is in majority built in Gothic style. It is devoted the October 20th 1275 by the Pape Gregoire X in the presence of the emperor Rodolphe de Habsbourg.

Dimensions

overall length except work: 99,75 m
length of the transept except work: 42,10 m
height of the tower of the belfry: 67,50 m
height of the Turn-lantern: 79,60 m (restored by Purple-the-Duke)

Characteristics

The guet

The town of Lausanne always maintains, and this since 1405 (one celebrated in November 2005 the 600 years of the guet of Lausanne), a service of guet announcing the hours, to shouted, 10 p.m. at 2 o'clock in the morning since the top of the Beffroi. From 1992 to 2001, it is Philippe Becquelin, alias Mix & Remix, draftsman of press with Hebdo, which was charged to shout at the four cardinal points: " It is the guet, it sounded ". In the beginning, the guet had the role of preventing any beginning of fire. Since 2002, it is Renato Häusler which occupies this function.

Each year, on December 31st at midnight, a spectacle its, light and smoke-producing gives the impression which the tower takes fire. This ceremony marks the passage to the New Year's Day.

The painted Gate

With the southern side of the cathedral, the painted Gate constitutes a jewel of the medieval statuary. Old and New Testament frame the crowning of the Virgin. The originality of the painted Gate holds so much in the conservation (relative) of the polychrome decoration that in the modest position of the Virgin, the good share being made to the Christ in majesty. It is by this side entry that the thousands of pilgrims entered the building, whereas usually, it is the principal door (in end of nave) which is used. But the number of people visiting the site made essential an organization of displacements inside the cathedral.

It was necessary nearly one century of work to restore the painted Gate and to return it to the public, with the protection resulting from most recent the architectural techniques. The persons in charge of the restoration decided not to reproduce artificially all original polychromy, partly disappeared, but to preserve and reinforce that which remained.

Various sights of the Cathedral

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