About Saint Peter’s Cathedral of Saintes in Saintes, France:
The first cathedral would have been founded in the 5th century by Bishop St. Vivian. It was destroyed several times, on the occasion of the Norman invasions and the Hundred Years War in particular, and each time rebuilt.
Today’s Gothic cathedral (now a minor Basilica) is built on oak piles and is 328 feet (100 meters) long, with a the remarkable porch bell tower. In 1568, the Huguenots undermined the pillars, which caused the vault and roof to collapse. There are still the side chapels with flamboyant bays, the most beautiful being on the right as you face the altar.
The southern transept, dating from the 13th century, is covered with a dome placed on double-rolled arches, which themselves lean on square columns twinned with bare capitals, as at the abbey of Sablonceaux.
One chapel, dedicated to St. Joseph, is decorated with a painting of the nineteenth century that represents the birth of the Virgin Mary. On the wall opposite this chapel, another painting shows St. Peter resurrecting a woman in Juppé (also known as Joppa or Jaffa) recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9:36-42).
At the southern entrance of the ambulatory, we can see a plaque recalling the history of the Angelus, intimately linked to that of this cathedral.
The chapel of Notre Dame des Victoires, where the Blessed Sacrament is currently preserved, dates from the 15th century. We will notice the star vault with multiple keys hanging. The chapel was enlarged to the west, but this part is simpler, decorated with stained glass windows imitating those of the Middle Ages.
The other three chapels, in the Renaissance Gothic style, are also from the 15th century. You can see four paintings that represent, in order: the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, when Jesus performed a miracle whereby by He brought a 12-year-old girl back to life; an encounter between John the Baptist and Jesus; St. Roch cared for by an angel and, finally, Jesus in agony in the Garden of Olives.
The south transept was restored in the 18th century and opens onto a portal of classic (outdoor) style. The ogival window received a stained glass window, inaugurated in 1996, offered by the city of Xanten (Germany) which is twinned with Saintes. This transept, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is used for weekly Masses.
The choir dates from the 18th century and is as large as the nave. The high altar is covered with inlay of polychrome marbles. The cymborium, worn by 4 columns of red marble, was brought from the Abbey to the Ladies and offered by Napoleon.
On the right, 2 pillars below, at the crossroads of the transept on the south side, you can see the statue (of 1954) of Our Lady of Miracles. At an indefinite period, during the night of the Purification, the bells rang and witnesses saw St. Mary in procession with other Saints. The Saints then developed a great devotion to Our Lady of Miracles, whose term has slightly evolved.
The organs, located above the western portal, were commissioned in the 17th century to Jean Oury (Poitiers). The buffet is partly from the 18th century, decorated with bouquets, flames, an angel with a trumpet, and at the top of King David with his lyre.
The porch bell tower, dates from the 15th century. The Romanesque seats, whose remains carved from deep horizontal grooves (inside), have been greatly reinforced, giving a very massive whole, one of the largest in Europe. In the floors, the bell tower is refined by openwork bays, pinnacles, then a courier that was to serve as the basis for an arrow that would peak at almost 100 meters of total height. But it was never finished and was replaced by a metal dome, about 328 feet (65 meters) high, which gives the bell tower its very recognizable silhouette.
The portal is one of the most beautiful flamboyant sculpture ensembles in West France, restored in spring 2002, decorated with 44 statues that represent 8 angel musicians, saints and prophets of the Old Testament.
The 14 niches of the right-foot have remained empty since the destruction of the 16th century (Wars of Religion).
The Cloister, adjacent to the south wall of the cathedral, is bordered by a covered gallery in ogival style to the west and south. To the east, the chapter house is being rebuilt.
Traveling to Saint Peter’s Cathedral of Saintes in Saintes, France:
Address: Phone: (+33) 5 46 74 23 82