COLLEGIALE NOTRE-DAME-EN-VAUX
An imposing building, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, combining harmony and light.
On this beautiful square, often referred to as Place Notre-Dame, stands this majestic church, which takes its name from the three streams that once bordered it, forming a valley, hence the name "vaux". This impressive edifice is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. A true emblem of the town, it was built between 1157 and 1217 in a transitional style, borrowing Romanesque and Gothic elements. Subsequently little altered and damaged, it underwent careful restoration in the 19th century. For many years, it was a collegiate church housing a community of canons (its demolished cloister is now the subject of a museum) and the town's largest parish. Lead-covered spires rise above the two towers and are reflected in the Mau, two others flank the chevet, and a vast porch protects the magnificent south-side portal. Inside, the harmony of proportions and the delicacy of light delight the visitor. The 19th-century carillon, with 56 bells, is one of the largest in Europe. If you'd like to learn more about the history of the building, the Tourist Office offers a free 10-step audioguided or interactive tour, from the nave to the cloister, including the spires, the Virgin's chapel, the relic of the Holy Navel, and many other treasures such as the stained glass windows, the paintings by Frère Luc, the funerary slabs and the famous carillon.
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