Sées Cathedral (french: Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Sées) is a
Roman Catholic church and
national monument
A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure.
The term may also refer to a spec ...
of
France in
Sées (formerly also Séez) in
Normandy. It is the seat of the
Bishop of Séez
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
.
The cathedral was declared a
basilica minor
In the Catholic Church, a basilica is a designation given by the Pope to a church building. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectural sense (a rectangular b ...
on 7 March 1871.
Orne.Catholique.fr: Basilique-Cathédrale ND de Sées
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The Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
cathedral dates from the 13th and 14th century and occupies the site of three earlier churches. The west front, which is disfigured by the buttresses projecting beyond it, has two stately spires of open work 230 ft. high. The nave was built towards the end of the 13th century. The choir, built soon afterward, is remarkable for the lightness of its construction. In the choir are four bas-reliefs of great beauty representing scenes in the life of the Virgin Mary; and the altar is adorned with another depicting the removal of the relics of Saints Gervais and Protais. The church has constantly been the object of restoration and reconstruction.
The cathedral has a magnificent organ by Cavaille-Coll which has recently been restored. Sunday afternoon recitals are held during July and August. The choir organ is also by the same maker.
In 2015, during restoration work on the North Tower, three new bells were installed.
See also
* List of Gothic Cathedrals in Europe
References
Sources
*
Cathédrales-de-France: Sées
Roman Catholic cathedrals in France
Churches in Orne
Basilica churches in France
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