Rouen Cathedral
Notre-Dame Cathedral has been extensively modified since the 4th century, thus explaining the lack of homogeneity. The building dates mainly from the 12th and first half of the 13th century.
About this building
The cathedral only acquired its present appearance in the last quarter of the 19th century. The location of the cathedral was already occupied in early Christian times. Construction began in 1020 and was consecrated in 1063. Archbishop Hughes of Amiens built the Saint-Romain tower in 1145. The Romanesque nave was destroyed by Gautier the Magnificent in 1185. About fifteen years later, a fire destroyed a large part of the building. In 1240, the building was rebuilt. The side chapels were added in 1270 and the axis chapels, the facade in the 15th century. Guillaume Pontifs built the top floor of the Saint-Romain tower between 1469 and 1477, enlarged the bookshop, built a staircase in 1479, built the portal of the cour des Libraires on rue Saint-Romain between 1482 and 1486, and started the Tour de Beurre in 1485. The top floor of the Crusader Tower was completed after 1514. Since 2016, major restoration campaigns have been carried out. The city of Rouen was the capital of the Duchy of Normandy. The building housed the ducal attributes (crown, sword, gold ring) and the choir still preserves the recumbents of three Dukes of Normandy (Rollon, Guillaume Longue Epée, Richard Coeur de Lion).
