What is Saint Sernin made out of?

Saint-Sernin is a basilica built in the Romanesque style in 1070, characterized by its barrel vaults, sturdy columns and thick walls, and its arcade. It was built from stone and brick and is the largest known Romanesque structure still in existence.

What is are the characteristics of the central nave of the Romanesque Saint Sernin?

The central nave is barrel vaulted; the four aisles have rib vaults and are supported by buttresses. Directly under the tower and the transept is a marble altar, consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096 and designed by Bernard Gelduin. As well as Saint Saturnin, Saint Honoratus is also buried here.

Does St Sernin have flying buttresses?

The principal advantage of the flying buttresses is that they eliminated the need for large galleries., such as are found at St. Sernin at Toulouse and St. Étienne at Caen, which contained internal buttresses.

Who was Saint Sernin?

Sernin (Saturninus in Latin), the first bishop of Toulouse. He was born in the early third century in Greece, and was one of seven bishops that Pope Fabian sent to different parts of Gaul to actively preach the Christian gospels to the pagans who lived in those areas.

Why is Saint Sernin the ideal Romanesque pilgrimage church?

Saint-Sernin is an excellent example of a Romanesque pilgrimage church, a building that needed to accomplish two interrelated ends. Romanesque churches are notable for their thick walls with relatively few windows, Roman arches, barrel vaults, and the use of massive vaulting.

What is the Reims cathedral made of?

Reims is richly decorated with elegant masonry sculpture (particularly the exterior) and exceptional stained-glass windows, making it one of the artistic masterpieces of the French High Gothic period.

How is Saint Sernin the ideal pilgrimage church?

Why was St Sernin built?

A pilgrimage church. Begun sometime around 1080 (approximately 825 years after the saint’s death), Saint-Sernin was formally consecrated as a church about a century later. First, the structure needed to provide a suitably inspiring shrine for the holy relics of the saint it was built to commemorate.

Why is Reims cathedral special?

A prominent example of High Gothic architecture, it was built to replace an earlier church destroyed by fire in 1210. Although little damaged during the French Revolution, the present cathedral saw extensive restoration in the 19th century.