Saint-Père Travel Guide

 hquittner Says:  The radiant chapels are of interest. Near them in a niche, one first encounters an ancient gisant lying next to an equally old polychromed relief. Thenearby chapel contains a Madonna and child and altar plus stained glass of antique pattern (and possibly also old). A second... 

 hquittner Says:  The nave of St.-Pere is an early example (1225-40) of the elimination of the triforium in a Gothic church. The height (50m) is achieved by tall arched arcades and tall clerestory windows. The absent second level is reduced to an open ledge. There are wide aisles and an... 

 hquittner Says:  The 13C porch as originally built was open with Gothic stone tracery in the bay windows. Some of these are now sealed. When Viollet-le-Duc visited the church while he was planning the Vezelay restoration, he fell in love with the work on this one and decided to restore it at... 

 hquittner Says:  Spired bell-towers are not too common for this period. Here is a 50m one, which below is characteristically square (hidden by ongoing repair work). Above this the edges are replaced by adding columns which at the next level support heralding angel statues which force a... 

 hquittner Says:  The most unexpected aspects of the church of St.-Pere (originally called Notre Dame) are its spired bell-tower, its porch and its statued gable. The gable was undoubtedly done here first by the creator of the Narthex at Vezelay because the latter is more precise. There must...