Campanile Beauvais

Circular Window: From a Wheel to a Rose

by hquittner

The Wheel of Life window on the North transept face of the church of St.-Etienne is the immediate ancestor of the Rose window. This one is the best antecedent of the Rose Window in Romanesque architecture. These windows in turn evolved from small simple oculi in the west faces of small dark chapels. In a short time, they acquired decorations of primitive carved stone, which became more sophisticated , first foliage and later symbols of the Evangelists (lion, eagle, bull and angel). These were often set in a square around the circle under the gable. They were “small” (under 6 feet in diameter). As stone carving progressed they were subdivided as simple crosses or Celtic ones, halos or Chi-Rho symbols. They were filled with thin translucent alabaster plates; plate glass had not yet been invented. To some, the divisions became spokes like in a wheel. In these, the spokes were easiest turned like columns and were given capitals at each end. Beyond the peripheral capitals would be arches, simple or complex. Symbolically these were indeed called wheels (remember Ezekial?). As stone carving progressed more decorated figures were added around the periphery and the whole affair could be a symbol, as it is here at St.-Etienne: a “Wheel of Fate”(or Life) illustrating the stages in the life of Man from birth to death. (Suger’s round window at St. Denis is a Wheel). Be sure to see here at St.-Etienne, that the spokes are columns and there are triple arches. Shortly at Mantes and Laon (about 1180) following Suger, stained glass was used. The twelve petals at Mantes are still separated by columns. (Columns are still used in Orvierto's Rose almost a century later). At Laon , the first window is seven rosettes. This was quickly followed in 1190 at Laon, by a much larger window and this time it is a Rose Window and was called such. (In fact the Madonna in the central glass is holding a rose in her hand). It also has the mystic 12 petals. This became the rage in the next Gothic churches.

There Are Other Items to See in the Church

by hquittner

The church furnishings found in St.-Etienne include a 16C pulpit from which the elected Mayors of Beauvais took their oath of office and an even older baptismal font and the aforementioned Deposition group in the nave besides the beautiful glass.

Two world famous objects in one city.

by Askla

Beauvais has a lot more to offer than just a low-cost airport, for which it is most well-known. Just take little time to explore this nice town and you'll find kind of a gem.
First of all there is the Saint Pierre Cathedral. The vaults are 48,6 m high, making it the highest uncompleted cathedral in the world. Uncompleted? Yes, see my tips for the info.

Inside the St. Pierre Cathedral will you find another rarity: the oldest chiming clock in the world! But there is more to see inside the Cathedral, like an astonishing astronomical clock built of more than 90.000 pieces.

You Should Stop at Beauvais

by hquittner

"Overlooked? How Is That?"

We spent a full day exploring Beauvais. That wa long ago, yet its sites remain unchanged and ignored by VT'ers and other recent travelers heading to or from Paris using the low-price airlines that land there. All they see is out the bus window as they go by.Of course if they are not interested Gothic Cathedrals or older churches or the history of fine tapestry and such, they have made the correct decision. But be aware that the cathedral of St.-Pierre is the tallest one in the world. It is a Michelin 3* attraction (rated worth a journey).

"The Town"

The center town has been rebuilt since the devastation of W.W. II. Since the tapestry manufacture was moved to the Gobelins in Paris at the start of the war, Beauvais was awarded a National Museum of Tapistry. The church of St.-Etienne should also be visited by those interested in churches and for is stained glass.

Beauvais

by grayfo

Beauvais is famous for its impressive cathedral but is also a town where there is plenty to do. From visiting one of the many historic monuments or museums, going out for a drink or a meal, looking for entertainment or shopping, Beauvais has it all. It is located south of Amiens and 41 miles north of Paris. It is on both the Autoroute du Nord and Route National 1.

" Useful websites: - "

Official Website
Unofficial Website (French)