Bourges Cathedral
Bourges Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Stephen, is a Gothic cathedral located in Bourges, Le Cher, central France. Built from 1195 to 1245, the cathedral is one of the largest in Europe and contains many magnificent stained glass windows which date to the 13th century. Bourges Cathedral is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Renewal & Expansion
Legend has it that today's cathedral is situated on the spot Saint Ursinus founded a church in the 3rd century. More certain is the existence of a Romanesque cathedral at the site from the 11th century, credited to the efforts of Archbishop Gauzlin (1013-1030). This church was expanded in the mid-12th century under the guidance of Archbishop Pierre de La Châtre (1141-1171). Exterior architectural elements and sculptures of this later version were reused in the present Gothic cathedral. By the final decade of the 12th century, the Romanesque cathedral became too small for the city's needs, now the centre of an expanded diocese, and so the people of Bourges began plans to build a new cathedral in the High Gothic style, the first such edifice in France south of the Loire river.
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