Saint-Leonce cathedral

The Cathédrale Saint-Leonce in the historical center of Frejus is classified Historic building since 1862. It is a building in the beginning medieval but resulting from several times:

Baptistry paléo-Christian of the 5th century, surrounded by an octagonal room with sides cut with Absidiole S; the eight column S of angle are of Corinthian style (re-employment of Roman building); opening on a stage of octagonal form.
Leaves of gates in To drown carved going back to 1530 surmounted windows with crossings.
Cloister on floors with wooden carpentry of the 13th century.
Bell-tower of the 13th century, above the Narthex

The Cathedral belonged to the episcopal Cité of Frejus.

Description of the cathedral

Interior

Naves

The cathedral has two naves joined following successive modifications during centuries:

the nave Notre-Dame - it is partly the old Romance church paléochrétienne - has 3 vaults on intersecting ribs.
the nave Saint-Etienne of the 11th century and 12th century has six barrel vaults. It was reserved at the origin with the bishop.

The apse

It semicircular is arched and in a style “half dome says”. It contains the tombs of the bishops Guillaume de Rouffilhac (1361-1364) and Louis de Bouillac (1385-1405).

The entry

The lintel dating of April 1st, 1530, at the origin of Jacques Durandi, was restored during the 16th century. The doors external of the 16th century are surmounted windows with crossings, with remarkable carved casements out of wooden Renaissance.

Furniture

crucifix of wood 16th century;
retable dedicated to Holy-Marguerite of Jacques Durandi in a vault of the nave Saint-Etienne;
statues 17th century in collateral the left representing the Cameline bishops, Barthelemy (1599-1637) and Pierre (1637-1654);
nativity 16th century in the nave,
in the chorus, beautiful altered stalls 15th century 18th century (radiant style 14th century) out of wood carved of pinks, clochets and of gables.

Outside

The bell-tower

At the 12th century, a first bell-tower-porch was at the entry in the first span of the nave Notre-Dame.

The current bell-tower dates from the 13th century. The tower of the bell-tower is divided into three parts:

the conical roof of form is decorated with yellow and green in order to give the illusion of gold;
It rests that an octagonal construction of the 16th century;
And finally the whole rests on an older square basis above the narthex on the side of the southern déambulatoire.

Entry

The main door has very beautiful casements with each one eight carved panels illustrating of the scenes of the life of the Virgin, of the images of Pierre and Paul.

Baptistry

In the south-west of the cathedral is a baptistry Paléochrétien, oldest of France since it dates from the 5th century and it one of is best preserved:

re-employment of eight ancient columns of angle Corinthians in source undoubtedly of a Roman building.
the room is octagonal as well as the tank or swimming pool for the baptism by immersion as that was practiced at the time.
the sides are cut with absidioles containing sarcophagi and statues lying.
the cupola is on pillars

It is one of three testimonys of the very permeable Art mérovingien with the Eastern influence which reached us (see the baptistries of Aix-en-Provence, Riez).

Cloister

The Romance cloister on two floors dates from the 12th century. The cloister is classified Historic building since 1875

The access of the canonic cloister is done by the place which is on the side of the cathedral. The cloister being in the North-East of this one. Previously, the monks could reach it more easily while leaving the nave and while climbing on the line. The room which is on the right entry is reserved for the municipal archaeological museum.

The old man puit in the center was restored in 1922-1931 as well as the double staircase going on the floor.

The ceilings of the galleries are in joineries of XIVe century, with pretty arcades falling down on double posts. They are painted and decorated characters, animals, and a fantastic bestiary through more than three hundred panels.

The stage giving on the cloister, of which there remains a gallery, is accessible by a staircase to double slope. Paintings are of XIVe and XVe centuries. Small Corinthian columns date from the 13th century.

The door of an arched room is closed with a grid 15th century century.

Nowadays, of the temporary exhibitions are held in rooms restored in 1967 and located at the North-East. They are the rooms of Old Frejus.

House of the provost

Beside the cloister, the house of the provost dating according to 1206 is.

Large Organ

History

1600 : first known organ
1778: organ repaired in 1806
1810: organ BORME-GAZEL
1855: order of a choir organ with its dresser at House CAVAILLÉ-COLL.
1856: the choir organ becomes a large organ.
1857: reception of organ CAVAILLÉ-COLL.
1926: restoration.
1944: the cathedral undergoes bombardments. The organ is exposed to the wind and dust.
1952: restoration of the cathedral. The organ is moved and given up in a corner. Parts are spoiled or disappear for lack of maintenance during years.
1962: rebuilding of a new organ.
1967: inauguration of organ GONZALEZ.
1986: the organ is in bad condition, a reconstruction project is approved by the National Commission of the Organ. During this time, a small organ of replacement is bought. It is now with the Chapelle Saint-François of Paule.
1991: inauguration of organ QUOIRIN.

Composition of the organ

3 keyboards of 56 notes, 1 pedals of 30 notes. Electric drive.

External bonds

Cathedral
Inheritance of Frejus: Cathedral
Romanes.com: Cathedral
Structurae.de: Cathedral
ouaj.com: Cathedral
Site of the Large Organ of the Cathedral
Workshop of invoice of organ PASCAL QUOIRIN

Discography

Music of Organ to the cathedral of Frejus, Organist: Jean Wallet
European Baroque music on the Organ of the cathedral of Frejus, Organists: Francis Chain, Rene Saorgin and Viviane Loriaut, (Disc Frejus, AGB 001), 2 CD

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