The Cathedrals Of Southern France Part 45

Sologne An arid plain separated by the valleys of the Cher and the Indre

Gatinais A barren country northeast of Sologne

Saintonge Slightly mountainous and covered with vineyards--also in parts partaking of the characteristics of the _Landes_

Angoumois A hilly country covered with a growth of vines

Perigord An _ensemble_ of diverse regions, often hilly, but covered with a luxuriant forest growth

Bordelais (Comprising Blayais, Fronsadais, Libournais, Entre-deux-mers, Medoc, and Bazadais.) The vine-lands of the Garonne, La Gironde, and La Dordogne

Dauphine Another land of mountains and valleys. It is crossed by numbers of ranges and distinct peaks. The princ.i.p.al subdivisions are Viennois, Royonnais Vercors, Trieves, Devoluy, Oisons, Graisivaudan, Chartreuse, Queyras ValG.o.demar, Champsaur.

Provence A region of fertile plains dominated by volcanic rocks and mountains. It contains also the great pebbly plain in the extreme southwest known as the Crau

Camargue The region of the Rhone delta

Languedoc Properly the belt of plains situated between the foot of the Cevennes and the borders of the Mediterranean

Rousillon The region between the peaks of the Corbiere and the Albere mountain chain. The population was originally pure Catalan

Lauragais A stony plateau with red earth deposited in former times by the glaciers of the Pyrenees

Albigeois A rolling and fertile country

Toulousain A plain well watered by the Garonne and the Ariege

Comminges The lofty Pyrenean valleys of the Garonne basin

VIII

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Sketch map of the bishoprics and archbishoprics of the south of France at the present day_]

IX

_Dimensions and Chronology_

CATHEDRALE D'AGDE

Bishopric founded, Vth century Bishopric suppressed, 1790 Primitive church consecrated, VIIth century Main body of present cathedral, XIth to XIIth centuries

ST. CAPRIAS D'AGEN

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Former cathedral of St. Etienne, destroyed at the Revolution, 1790 Apse and transepts of St. Caprias, XIth century Width of nave, 55 feet

ST. JEAN BAPTISTE D'AIRE

Cathedral begun, XIIIth century

ST. SAVEUR D'AIX

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Eglise St. Jean de Malte, XIVth century Remains of a former St. Saveur's, XIth century Choir, XIIIth century Choir elaborated, XIVth century South aisle of nave, XIVth century Tower, XIVth century Carved doors, 1503 Episcopal palace, 1512 North aisle of nave, XVIIth century Baptistere, VIth century

ST. JEAN D'ALAIS

A bishopric only from 1694 to 1790 Remains of a XIIth century church

STE. CECILE D'ALBI

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Begun, 1277 Finished, 1512 South porch, 1380-1400 Tower completed, 1475 Choir-screen, 1475-1512 Wall paintings, XVth to XVIth centuries Organ, XVIIIth century Choir stalls, 120 in number Height of tower, 256 feet Length, 300 (320?) feet Width of nave, 88 feet Height of nave, 98 feet

ST. PIERRE D'ALET

Primitive cathedral, IXth century (?) Rebuilt, XIth century Eglise St. Andre, XIVth to XVth centuries

ST. PIERRE D'ANGOULEME

[Ill.u.s.tration]

City ravaged by Coligny, XVIth century Cathedral rebuilt from foundations of primitive church, 1120 Western dome, XIIth century Central and other domes, latter part of XIIth century Episcopal palace restored, XIXth century General restoration of cathedral, after the depredations of Coligny, 1628 Height of tower, 197 feet

ST. PIERRE D'ANNECY

Christianity first founded here, IVth century Cathedral dates from XIVth century Tomb of St. Francois de Sales, 1622 Tomb of Jeanne de Chantal, 1641 Episcopal palace, 1784

ST. CASTOR D'APT

Gallo-Romain sarcophagus, Vth century Tomb of Ducs de Sabron, XIIth century Chapelle de Ste. Anne, XVIIth century