ST. STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL

Aptly named the "Lantern of God", this cathedral illuminates the city! A true Gothic masterpiece of imposing dimensions, its characteristic ochre colour is due to the famous Jaumont stone quarried in the region. Originally, it is the result of a merger of two churches: the collegiate church of Notre-Dame-la-Ronde and the cathedral, both built around 1220 but facing in opposite directions. Their bell towers were kept in their original position and, in 1359, a single vault united them. There is now only one Episcopal church. The building subsequently underwent many modifications (portals, chevet, Mutte tower), but it became a national landmark by housing the largest glass surface of any cathedral in France, and one of the largest in Europe: nearly 6,500^m2. Numerous artists have collaborated there over the years: from the German master glass artist Hermann de Münster (14th century) to the Korean artist Kimsooja (21st century, commissioned for the cathedral's 800th anniversary in 2020), not forgetting Valentin Bousch (16th century), Laurent-Charles Mérachal (19th century), Jacques Villon and Marc Chagall (20th century). Other religious objects are worth a look: an episcopal throne, a small "swallow's nest" organ case and a porphyry baptismal font. It hosts many religious and cultural events: concerts, St. Hubert's mass, exhibitions... which revive the place at any time. A real jewel that receives many visitors and rightly so!