CATHÉDRALE SAINT-ÉTIENNE

Saint-Étienne Cathedral is one of the first Gothic churches in Christendom (along with the Basilica of Saint-Denis). Built from 1130 onwards, its façade was completed at the end of the ^12th century, and its bell tower four centuries later. As for the north tower, it was never completed! The use of an innovative concept (the ribbed vault) made it the prototype of the great cathedrals of this style, which inspired many religious buildings: the choir of the abbey church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, for example, closely resembles that of Sens, and when the choir of Canterbury Cathedral was rebuilt (after it burned down in 1174), it was Guillaume de Sens who supervised the work. The magnificent nave, ^15th-century transept and fine stained glass windows dating from the late ^12th to ^17th centuries are well worth a visit. The chapels house the Saint-Louis altar (in memory of the King of France's marriage here in 1234), as well as the tombs of the Dauphin, son of Louis XV, and his wife, who asked to be laid to rest here. To the south of the choir, a staircase leads to the ^16th-century archiepiscopal palace, while the synodal palace (at an angle to the south side of the façade) was built in the ^13th century. And finally, did you know? This superb cathedral was included in the very first list of buildings classified as Historic Monuments, as early as 1840. The list was drawn up by the Monuments Historiques Inspector, the famous writer Prosper Mérimée.

While the cathedral can be visited independently, it is an integral part of the adjacent Sens Museums. This is where you can visit the rich treasure room that the building houses. A priceless treasure, both artistically and historically, it houses an impressive collection of tapestries and fabrics, the majority of which are Coptic, Persian and Byzantine. But also works of goldsmithery, enamels and ivories. And liturgical vestments, including the chasuble of St. Ebbon (^7th century) and the priestly vestments of Thomas Becket (^12th century), whose life is recounted in an entire stained-glass window.