After visiting the fort at Angers, we poked through the medieval streets to the Cathedral of St. Maurice. At top is a picture of the three towers taken from the fort. The church is a landmark building from the early Gothic age, but the middle tower (see picture below) was added much later in the 16th century and has quite a different feel to it than the older towers on each side. While one thinks that this is a tiny town to support such a cathedral, the Angers in the Middle Ages supported six major monasteries.
Most of the inside pictures did not come out. (I've since learned to bring a tripod for the insides of Gothic churches as the stain glass windows darken over time and allow only a smattering of light through). One of the pictures that didn't come out showed the vaulted ceiling, the first in Plantagenet style where some of the arches are taller than others, creating a dome. Here's a copy I "borrowed" from the web:
This style was eventually exported to Italy. In addition, the width of the congregation's portion of the church (called the nave), was about twice as wide as is typical of that day -- no mean feat for an architect.
The stain glass windows were created from the 12th century through modern times.
The 18th century organ was spectacular to see (and to play as it will be featured this month in the NPR show on pipe organs).
And finally, here's the pulpit from the 19th century.
Next stop: Chateau de Montgeoffroy. Please join us by clicking here.
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