Saint-Maurice cathedral of Vienna

The Saint-Maurice cathedral of Vienna is the old cathedral of the Diocèse of Vienna, created in IIIe century and removed with the Revolution in 1790. Until this date, the cathedral was also the seat of the Primatie of the Seven Provinces. The church currently forms part of the diocese of Grenoble.

History of the building

Construction

The cathedral of Vienna occupies the same site since IVe century, but no trace of construction former to Xe century remains. The cathedral is reconstuite between 1030 and approximately 1070 by the Leger archbishop. The construction of the current building is undertaken in 1130 in the Roman style. To this time go back the oldest parts, namely the part of the nave ranging between 5th and the 11th span. The construction continues in XIIIe century: the style becomes Gothic then, as testifies to them the chorus, the beginning and the high parts of the nave. The name of Guillaume of Work is advanced as architect. The cathedral is devoted by the pope Innocent IV under the term of Saint-Maurice , on April 20th, 1251. Construction continues until XVIe century with in particular the rise in the frontage. The last stone is posed in 1529. Thereafter, the building suffered much from the wars of religion in XVIe century. The hugenots destroy in particular the majority of the stained glasses and the whole of the sculptures of the façace on March 20th, 1561. Under the Revolution, the church is transformed into hay loft and barracks. The church is reopened with the worship in 1802 but the two cloisters and three vaults are destroyed in 1803-1804, to restructure urban fabric in the neighborhoods. Lastly, the Northern tower is victim of fire in 1869.

Some great dates

887 : Boson, king de Bourgogne count de Vienne, of Arles and Provence, is buried in the cathedral. An epitaph in the left side points out this burial.

February 9th, 1119: after being elected pope in Cluny, the archbishop of Vienna, GUI of Burgundy, is crowned in the cathedral. He takes the name of Calixte II (1119-1124).

April 20th, 1251: the cathedral is devoted by the pope Innocent IV.

October 1311 in April 1312: the Concile of Vienna convened by the pope Clément V is held in the cathedral. This council remained famous to have ordered the suppression of the Templiers.

July 1548: the heart of the Dolphin Francois, wire of François Ier is deposited in the chorus. A plate in front of the high altar symbolizes the site.

1693 : the famous preacher Jean-Baptiste Massillon pronounces the funeral oration of the archbishop Henri de Villars.

February 1988: 900 years commemoration of the birth of Calixte II.

Description of the cathedral

Outside

The frontage is drawn up with the one of the ends of the Saint-Maurice place, at the top of a staircase. It is the most recent part of the building, built between XIVe and XVIe century, in the Gothic style. It presents two turns, a large bay with pink and lancets and three gates of blazing style, richly decorated. The sculptures decorating the tympanums and the niches were destroyed at the time of the wars of religion, but fortunately the rich person sculptures of the curves are intact. The gate of right-hand side is characterized by the presence of angels musicians and prophets (end of XIVe century), that of right-hand side, dedicated to the Virgin, by angels musicians and chorus-singers who celebrate the crowning of the mother of Christ (end of XVe century). Lastly, the central gate completion date of XVe century and introduces scenes of Old and New Testament, prophets and kings. At the beginning of curves, one notices in particular statues personifying the Church (on the right) and the Synagog (on the left).

Interior

The church presents three naves, without transept. The chorus is elevated compared to the nave, to respect the declivity of the ground. The nave is long 90 m and high of 33 Mr. the total width of the building is of 33 Mr. the interior present a beautiful harmony in spite of the four centuries of construction.

Works of art

The cathedral is rich in works of art, among which one can quote:

a series of Flemish tapestries of the end of XVIe century which recall episodes of the life of Saint Maurice. They are five and are hung around the chorus.

a stained glass of XVIe century in the bedside of the collateral right. This stained glass is the only old stained glass of the cathedral. It represents the Worship of the Magi in the upper part. In the lower part are represented Saint Maurice on the right and Holy Jacques on the left who frame the knelt giver, accompanied by his patron saint, Saint Antoine.

a very beautiful whole of an about sixty Romance capitals representative is historiées scenes (the King David musician, Holy Women with the tomb,…), that is to say vegetable decorations.

Of the carved groups of XIIIe century undoubtedly coming from old jubé. One notices in particular in the nave of left above a door a low-relief representing Kings Mages in front of Hérode and in the nave of right-hand side a low-relief representing the Worship of the Magi.

the mausoleum of the archbishops of Vienna Armand de Montmorin and Henri-Oswald of the Tower of Auvergne, in the chorus on the right. It is a work of the sculptor Michel-Angel Slodtz. It was ordered in 1740, realized in Rome and delivered to Vienna in 1747. The two archbishops are illustrated, one lengthened on the sarcophagus, the other coming towards him. It is an important work of the funerary sculpture in France at the XVIIIe century.

the high altar, also carried out by Slodtz Michel-Angel, with ancient marbles coming from Rome. It is the only old furnace bridge of the cathedral.

In the wall of the central apse draws up the episcopal see or stone cathèdre of XIIe century.

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