auch cathedral choir stalls |
![Rouen Cathedral, façade - image credit: Juliana Cheney Edwards Collection, courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Stalls at Auch cathdral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/auch_stalls-sm.jpg)
|
|
|
|
|
|
This page helpful?
Like it ! Share it ! |
|
|
|
![click to return to the France Zone home page](/france/germans/germans_button.png)
|
In the choir of Auch
cathedral is a very impressive hidden art treasure. A small door part-way along the choir in the side of the choir, for a mere 2€, is the gateway to this ecclesiastical wonder. |
for the stained glass at Auch -
history
of ugly stained glass
|
![Some of the hundred and thirteen oaken stalls, Auch cathedral Some of the hundred and thirteen oaken stalls, Auch cathedral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/auch_stalls1.jpg)
Some of the hundred and thirteen oaken stalls in the choir of Auch cathedral
Inside you will find a hundred and thirteen oaken stalls,
the wood blackened from being immersed in the Gers river
for thirty or so years - some say one hundred years, but
like the fish it tends to grow in size every time the
tale is told. As a result of the immersion, the wood could be worked in great detail, almost like lacework. In all, there are 1,500 different carvings: on the miserichords, armrests and partitions; the high canopies, backrests and pilasters; the passages and arching. |
advertising disclaimer
|
![Miserichord at Auch cathedral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/miserichord1.jpg) |
![Miserichord at Auch cathedral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/miserichord2.jpg) |
![Miserichord at Auch cathedral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/miserichord3.jpg) |
![Miserichord at Auch cathedral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/miserichord4.jpg) |
![Miserichord at Auch cathedral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/miserichord5.jpg) |
![Miserichord at Auch cathedral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/miserichord6.jpg) |
Miserichords at Auch cathedral |
Here, the monks stood for their interminable services
and while chanting their offices. A little half seat was
provided in every stall as a concession to human frailty.
Thus the monks could rest while still appearing to be
standing as was required during prayers. These seats are
called misericords, or mercy seat, [from Latin: misericordia , “act of mercy”].
Under the seats, between the seats,
in front of the seats, behind the seats and above the
seats is a absolute marvel and variety of the carver’s
art with somewhere around fifteen hundred carvings.
|
![New translation, the Magna Carta](/magnacarta/mc-ad-sm.jpg)
![marker at abelard.org](/news/Iozenge.png)
![Hèrmes logo](/france/hermes/hermsig.png)
![Centenary Tour de france, 2013](/france/tour2017/logo17-1.png)
|
![Some of the hundred and thirteen oaken stalls, Auch cathedral Some of the hundred and thirteen oaken stalls, Auch cathedral](/france/culture/ugly_glass/auch_stalls.jpg)
Some of the oaken choir stalls, each with a miserichord
![Carvings in the Auch cathedral choir](/france/culture/ugly_glass/auch_stalls3.jpg) |
![Carvings in the Auch cathedral choir](/france/culture/ugly_glass/auch_stalls5.jpg) |
![Carvings in the Auch cathedral choir](/france/culture/ugly_glass/auch_stalls4.jpg) |
Some of the hand supports on the arms
of the choir stalls. |
![Carvings in the Auch cathedral choir](/france/culture/ugly_glass/auch_stalls2.jpg)
King David, figuring Francois I and Bethsabeah
![Carvings in the Auch cathedral choir](/france/culture/ugly_glass/auch_bishops_chair.jpg)
The bishop’s chair with its high canopy in the centre of the line of stalls
Background
facts |
Auch![Blason of Auch Blason of Auch](/france/culture/blasons/auch.jpg) |
Auch is in the département of Gers (32)
approximate population
: 21,700
average altitude/elevation : 207 m
- cathedral dimensions
- nave length : 103 m
nave width : 33 m
vaults height : 27 m
height of sides : 14 m
height of towers : 44 m
|
related reading
Stalls archive at Princeton University
Although this archive includes many cathedrals, it does on include information on Auch. |