In the heart of Beaune, France, lies the Collégiale Notre-Dame, also known locally as the Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune. This magnificent structure is a testament to the architectural prowess and religious fervor of medieval Europe. As you approach, the church's grandiose façade, with its intricate stonework and towering spires, immediately captures your attention, inviting you to explore its rich history and stunning interiors.
The origins of Collégiale Notre-Dame date back to the 5th century when a church dedicated to Saint Baudèle stood in the center of the former Gallo-Roman castrum of Belena. In the 10th century, the Duke of Burgundy, Henry the Great, established a collegiate chapter near this church. By the year 1000, the first collegiate church was constructed using materials from the ruins of the ancient castrum. The current structure began to take shape around 1130 under Duke Hugh II, with significant expansions in the second half of the 12th century to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims.
The church saw numerous modifications over the centuries, including a Gothic restoration in the 13th century following a devastating fire in 1273. The 14th century brought the addition of a Gothic porch to the west façade, and the 16th century saw the construction of a Renaissance-style bell tower dome by Hugues Sambin. In the 1860s, renowned architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc undertook a comprehensive restoration, ensuring the preservation of this architectural gem for future generations.
The exterior of Collégiale Notre-Dame is a harmonious blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The lower part of the bell tower, dating from the 12th century, features blind arcades and fluted pilasters. The bell chamber, added in the 13th century, boasts pointed arch openings framed by archivolts and slender columns. The Renaissance dome, a later addition, crowns the tower with elegance.
The west façade is particularly striking, with its open Gothic porch divided into three bays, each supported by massive buttresses adorned with gargoyles. The porch's ribbed vaults rest on central columns and pilasters, creating a sense of depth and grandeur. Above the porch, a stone balustrade adds a touch of refinement. The wooden doors, dating from the 15th century, are a rare surviving element of the original sculptural decoration, most of which was lost during the French Revolution.
Adjacent to the south side of the church are the remnants of the former cloister and chapter house. Although only one wing of the cloister remains, its seven bays with ribbed vaults supported by octagonal pillars and slender double columns offer a glimpse into the monastic life that once thrived here. The chapter house, with its ribbed vaults and elegant capitals, is a serene space that invites contemplation.
The interior of Collégiale Notre-Dame is a marvel of medieval architecture, with a layout based on a Latin cross. The three-aisled nave, transept, and choir are covered by pointed barrel vaults supported by transverse arches. The side aisles and ambulatory feature groin vaults, while the apse, like the porch and chapter house, boasts ribbed vaults.
The central nave's three-story elevation, with its high pointed arch arcades, blind triforium, and clerestory windows, is reminiscent of Cluniac churches. The crossing is crowned by an octagonal dome, supported by pointed arches and pillars with fluted pilasters. The lower part of the apse is articulated by seven pointed arch arcades, while the upper part, rebuilt in the Gothic period, features seven large windows in the Flamboyant Gothic style.
Two Romanesque portals from the 12th century are preserved in the transept. The southern portal, leading to the cloister, is framed by two archivolts adorned with foliage and flanked by columns with capitals. The northern portal, opening onto a small 15th-century porch, is similarly decorated with geometric and plant motifs, with traces of original paint still visible.
The Chapel of Cardinal Jean Rolin, also known as the Saint-Léger Chapel, is adorned with frescoes attributed to the Dijon painter Pierre Spicre, dating from 1470 to 1474. The east wall depicts the stoning of Saint Stephen, while the west wall features the raising of Lazarus, with Saint Martha of Bethany and Mary Magdalene.
The Bouton Chapel, built between 1530 and 1533 for the canon Jean-Baptiste Bouton, showcases a coffered limestone ceiling adorned with keystones and Renaissance-style decorations. This chapel is a fine example of the blend of Gothic and Renaissance elements that characterize the church.
The stained glass windows of Collégiale Notre-Dame are a visual feast, with medallions from the late 15th and early 16th centuries set into 19th and 20th-century glass. The tympanum of one window depicts the Crucifixion of Christ, while other windows feature scenes from the life of Saint Peter, including his crucifixion, signed by the glass artist Édouard Didron in 1898.
The side chapels house 16th-century altarpieces, and the church's oldest furnishings include a black Madonna carved from dark walnut around 1200, possibly in an Auvergne workshop. This Madonna, seated on a throne with the Christ Child on her lap, is a rare and precious relic.
The choir is home to a set of five tapestries depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. Commissioned by the canon Hugues Le Coq and woven in Tournai around 1500, these tapestries are a remarkable example of medieval textile art. They were restored and rehung in the choir in 1995.
The church's organ dates back to 1635, built by Jean de Herville. After several modifications and restorations, the most recent being by Barthélémy Formentelli between 1985 and 1988, the organ now boasts 51 stops across four manuals and a pedalboard, making it a musical masterpiece in its own right.
Collégiale Notre-Dame is not just a church; it is a living museum of medieval and Renaissance art and architecture. Its walls and windows tell stories of faith, craftsmanship, and history, making it an unmissable destination for anyone visiting Beaune. As you explore this architectural marvel, you will be transported back in time, experiencing the grandeur and spiritual significance of one of Burgundy's most treasured landmarks.
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