Condom Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Condom Cathedral is a Catholic church and a former cathedral, and a national monument of France
, located in Condom
, Gers
. It was formerly the seat of the Bishops of Condom; the diocese was added to the Archdiocese of Auch in 1822.
River. It was designed at the end of the 15th century, and erected 1506-31, one of the last major buildings in the Gers
region to be constructed in the Gothic
style of south-west France
. The church has buttress
es all around and there is a 40 metre square tower over the west front. The west front door has the Four Evangelists
' symbols in the tympanum
, and the south nave door in the Flamboyant
Gothic style still has 24 small statues in the niches of the archivolt
.
Inside, the wide, aisleless nave is lit by the clerestory
windows with grisaille
glass. At night, the lights on the Flamboyant tracery of the clerestory windows are a lovely sight. There is a neo-Gothic rood screen
(or jubé) from 1844 around the chancel which forms a pseudo-ambulatory
. The stained glass in the choir is from the 19th century. This cathedral was famous for its sumptuous 16th century liturgy
, and for its organ of 1605 at the west end. This is commemorated in the choir vault bosses
with figures of angel musicians. The original pulpit
with its delicately-carved stone baldaquin is still in place. The 16th century cloister
is now a public passageway adjoining a car park, the exterior of which is attractively illuminated at night.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, located in Condom
Condom, Gers
Condom , also referred to as Condom-en-Armagnac, is a commune in southwestern France in the department of Gers, of which it is a subprefecture.-Way of St. James:...
, Gers
Gers
The Gers is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France named after the Gers River.Inhabitants are called les Gersois or Gersoises.-History:...
. It was formerly the seat of the Bishops of Condom; the diocese was added to the Archdiocese of Auch in 1822.
Building description
The cathedral dominates the town, which sits on a hill above the BaïseBaïse
The Baïse is a 188 km long river in south-western France, left tributary of the Garonne. Its source is in the foothills of the Pyrenees, near Lannemezan...
River. It was designed at the end of the 15th century, and erected 1506-31, one of the last major buildings in the Gers
Gers
The Gers is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France named after the Gers River.Inhabitants are called les Gersois or Gersoises.-History:...
region to be constructed in the Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style of south-west France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The church has buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es all around and there is a 40 metre square tower over the west front. The west front door has the Four Evangelists
Four Evangelists
In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...
' symbols in the tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
, and the south nave door in the Flamboyant
Flamboyant
Flamboyant is the name given to a florid style of late Gothic architecture in vogue in France from the 14th to the early 16th century, a version of which spread to Spain and Portugal during the 15th century; the equivalent stylistic period in English architecture is called the Decorated Style, and...
Gothic style still has 24 small statues in the niches of the archivolt
Archivolt
An archivolt is an ornamental molding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch. It is composed of bands of ornamental moldings surrounding an arched opening, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a rectangular opening...
.
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
windows with grisaille
Grisaille
Grisaille is a term for painting executed entirely in monochrome or near-monochrome, usually in shades of grey. It is particularly used in large decorative schemes in imitation of sculpture. Many grisailles in fact include a slightly wider colour range, like the Andrea del Sarto fresco...
glass. At night, the lights on the Flamboyant tracery of the clerestory windows are a lovely sight. There is a neo-Gothic rood screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
(or jubé) from 1844 around the chancel which forms a pseudo-ambulatory
Ambulatory
The ambulatory is the covered passage around a cloister. The term is sometimes applied to the procession way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar....
. The stained glass in the choir is from the 19th century. This cathedral was famous for its sumptuous 16th century liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
, and for its organ of 1605 at the west end. This is commemorated in the choir vault bosses
Boss (architecture)
In architecture, a boss is a knob or protrusion of stone or wood.Bosses can often be found in the ceilings of buildings, particularly at the intersection of a vault. In Gothic architecture, such roof bosses are often intricately carved with foliage, heraldic devices or other decorations...
with figures of angel musicians. The original pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
with its delicately-carved stone baldaquin is still in place. The 16th century cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
is now a public passageway adjoining a car park, the exterior of which is attractively illuminated at night.