cathedral plans,
and facts

cathedral orientation

It is convention to refer to the apse end of cathedrals as the east, and the other three points as west, south and north. It is also common to refer the the ‘east’ end of the cathedral as being oriented towards Jerusalem.

In fact, many of the cathedrals were built on sites which were long the place of previous cathedrals. These had often been burnt or otherwise damaged, or overtaken by changing fashions and growing congregations. And going beyond that into the past, they were sites of Roman and pagan temples.

The demands of site and geography could also be a consideration. Thus, if you check, you will often find that cathedrals are not reliably oriented east-west, but are quite variable. The magnetic compass was only being introduced in Europe in the late 12th century, by which time the sites of most cathedrals were well established. So maybe the cathedral builders had used the North Star.

However, the convention remains. The main altar and apse are at the ‘eastern’ end, the prime public entrance is at the ‘west’, with side entrance at ‘north’ and ‘south’.

Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Agde

This plan shows the Roman cloisters prior to their destruction in 1857.

Agde

approximate population : 24, 600
average altitude: 7 m

cathedral dimensions
   • length : 30.5 m
   • width : 15 m
   • bell tower : 35 m
   • wall thickness : 2-3 m

Cathédrale Notre Dame d’Amiens

cathedral dimensions

building footprint (area) : 7,700 m²

external length : 145 m
internal volume : 200,000 m³
internal length : 133.5 m
transept external length : 72 m
transept internal length : 62 m
transept width : 29.3 m
nave width : 12.15 m
nave height (under the vaults) : 42.3 m
spire height : 112.7 m
north tower height : 68 m
north tower height : 61.7 m
labyrinth (labyrinthe) diameter : 12.1 m

Amiens

approximate population : 133 354
average altitude: 33 m

Amiens is 87 miles/139 km north of Paris

Cathédrale Saint-Maurice d'Angers

cathedral dimensions
• total length : 90.47 m
• nave length : 48 m
• nave width : 16.38 m
• nave height : 24.68 m

Angers

approximate population : 152,500
average altitude: 25 m

Cathédrale de Notre-Dame d'Arras
[this building was destroyed during the French Revolution]

cathedral dimensions
• length of nave and choir together : 92 m / 302 ft
• width of nave : 13 m / 49 ft
• height of nave : 20 m / 66.5 ft
• height of tower : 47 m / 154 ft

Arras

approximate population : 47,052
average altitude : 72 m

West front of the current cathedral at Arras,
called Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Vaast d'Arras.
This was planned an abbey church,
and consecrated as cathedral in 1833

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux

cathedral dimensions

total length : 102 m
nave width : 10 m
side aisle width : 5 m
side chapels' width : 5 m
transept length : 37.60 m
nave height (under the vaults) : 32 m
west facade spire height : 76.60 m
clock tower height : 74.50 m

Bayeux

approximate population : 13,888
average altitude/elevation : 46 m (32–67 m)

département : Calvados, 14

West front, Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux

name origin

The capital of the Baïocasses, after the Roman conquest, within a few generations became known as Bajocae, then Bajoces. Bayeux was the former capital of the Viking region Bessin, and from the fourth century the seat of the bishopric of Bajonencis. The inhabitants are called Bajocasses.

Cathédrale Saint Jean Baptiste de Bazas

cathedral dimensions
• nave length : 80 m
• height under vaults : 20 m

Bazas

approximate population : 4,500
average elevation : 55 m (ranging from 34 m to 123 m)

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais

cathedral dimensions
• total length : 70 m / 230 ft
• tower height : 151.59 m / 497.3 ft
• transept length : 58 m / 190 ft

Beauais

approximate population : 53,400
average altitude : 65 m / 213 ft

Beauvais is 53 miles/84 km north of Paris

West front, Cathedrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais

Cathédrale Saint-Jean de Besançon

cathedral dimensions
• nave length : 65 m
• height under vaults : - m

Besançon

approximate population :118,000
average altitude : 260 m

Cathedrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges

cathedral dimensions
• total length, exterior: 125 m
• total length, interior: 117.95 m
• total interior width: 41 m
• width, internal aisle: 6.52 m
• width, external aisle: 6.65 m

Bourges

approximate population : 68,600
average altitude : 146 m

Bourges is the capital of the département of Cher (18000)

West facade of Bourges cathedral, with its five doorways.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres

cathedral dimensions
• overall length : 130 m / 430 ft
• overall width : 32 m / 105 ft
• nave, length : 73 m / 237 ft
• nave, width : 16.4 m / 54 ft
• nave, height : 37 m / 121 ft
• side aisle, width : 8 m / 26 ft

see also
the buttresses and roof of Chartres cathedral

Chartres

approximate population : 39,160
average altitude : 140 m

West front, Notre Dame de Chartres

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption
de Clermont-Ferrand

cathedral dimensions
• length : 92 m
     • length, choir : 36 m
     • length, transept and nave : 28.7 m
• width, transept : 32.70 m
• height, transept crossing : 28.7 m
• height, aisle : 14.3 m.
• height, Tour de la Bayette : 50.7 m
• height, western spires : 96.2 m.

Clermont-Ferrand

approximate population : 139,000
average altitude : 358 m

La cathédrale Notre-Dame de Coutances

cathedral dimensions
   • Exterior length: 95.17m
   • Interior length: 87m
   • Nave length: 38.7
   • Nave width, between the pillars: 8m
   • Nave width, from pillar axis to axis : 15m
   • Aisle width, between the pillars: 4m
   • Nave total width: 33.7m
   • Exterior transept width: 31m
   • Transept width under the lantern-tower: 11m
   • Lantern-tower height, under the vault: 40.85m
   • Exterior lantern-tower height: 57.45m
   • Nave height, under vault keystone: 21.9m
   • Choir width: 9.3m
   • Apse total width: 31.15m
   • South-west spire height, including 3m for crosses: 77m
   • North-west spire height: 75m

Coutances

approximate population : 8,790
altitude: 2 m – 150 m

La cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Evreux

Cathedral dimensions

west facade width : 37 m

Nave

total length : 108,87 m
nave length : 43.47
nave width, between the pillars : 8.82 m
aisle width : 4.70 m
height under vault : 21.75 m

Transept

length : 31.5 m
width : 7 m
height under vault : 22.21m
height under lantern : 45 m
spire height : 78.15 m

Choir

length : 27.50 m
width : 11.50 m
aisle width : 4.95 m
height under vault : 24.1 m

Evreux

approximate population : 49 461
average altitude : 92 m (58–146 m)
département : Eure, 27

ébroïcien

Inhabitant of Evreux

West facade, la cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Evreux

name origin

From Ebroicae (capital of the Aulerques Eburovices), then Mediolanum Aulercorum (their religious town), then Ebroicae, and at last Eburovices some generations after the Roman conquest, indicating that the city still had no rampart (vicus). 
The current name comes from awa (eau - water in French) 
It was the seat of the Ebroicensis bishopric from the 4th century onwards.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon

Laon

approximate population : 27,230
average altitude : 175 m

West front, Notre Dame de Laon

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne

cathedral dimensions
• height of belfry : 67,50 m
• height of lantern tower : 79,60 m (restored by Viollet Le-Duc)

Lausanne, Switzerland

approximate population : 125,885
average altitude : 528 m

Cathédrale St-Julien du Mans

cathedral dimensions
• total length: 129 m
• length, nave: 57 m • length, transept: 52 m
• height, Romanesque transept: 24 m
• height, Gothic choir vaults: 34 m

Le Mans

approximate population :144,500
average altitude : 48 m
Le Mans is the capital of the département of Sarthe (72000)

West facade of la Cathédrale St-Julien du Mans

Note that, while the west front is Romanesque, the cathedral has many Gothic components

Cathédral Saint-Pierre de Lisieux

cathedral dimensions

total length : 110 m
height under vaults : 20 m
lantern-tower - height under the vault : 30 m

 

 

 

name origin

Noviomagos, agricultural market of Lexovii, and Lexovii, their oppidum and capital, seat since the 4th century of the bishopric of Lexoviensis.
Noviomagos comes from the Gaulish words novio (new) + magos (market), which indicates that the city, old market, was newly fortified.

Lisieux

approximate population : 20 881
average altitude/elevation : 32–152 m 
département : Calvados, 14

Cathédrale Saint Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

cathedral dimensions
• overall length: 80 metres
• choir: 20 metres
• total aisle width: 26 metres
• main nave width: 19.3 metres
• height, nave arches: 32.5 metres

Lyon

approximate population :480,660
average altitude : 175 m

Cathédrale Saint-Etienne de Metz

cathedral dimensions
• total length : 136 m
• interior length : 123.2 m
• nave height : 41.41 m
• nave width : 15.6 m
• transept length: 46.8 m
• transept width : 16.34 m
• height, north tower : 69 m (Tour du Chapitre)
• height, south tower : 88 m (Tour de la Mutte)

Metz

approximate population : 124,000
average altitude : 172 m

Cathédrale Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte de Nevers

cathedral dimensions
• total length : 110 m
• height under vaults : 23 m
• height of tower : 50 m

Nevers

approximate population : 41,000
average elevation : 175 m

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Noyon

cathedral dimensions
• total length : 102 m
• nave width : 21 m
• vault height : 22.7 m

Noyon

approximate population : 14 ,240
average altitude : 43 m

West front of Notre-Dame de Noyon cathedral (circa 1900)

La cathédrale de Notre Dame de Paris

cathedral dimensions
• overall length : 130 m / 430 ft
• overall width : 32 m / 105 ft
• nave, length : 73 m
• transept width : 46 m / 151 ft
• height, choir vaulting : 33.5 m

• construction : from 1163 to the mid-14th century

See also the fire at the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris so far (16.04.2019)

Paris

approximate population : 2,125,250
average altitude : 40 m

West front, Notre Dame de Paris

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers

cathedral dimensions
• nave length : 94 m
• nave width : 30 m
• vault height : 27 m

Poitiers

approximate population : 87,400
average elevation : 65 m

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims

cathedral dimensions
• exterior length : 149 m
• interior length : 138 m
• nave width : 14.65 m
• nave height : 38 m

Reims

approximate population : 196,565
average altitude : 83 m

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption de Rouen

Rouen

approximate population : 111,805
average altitude :

rouennais, Rouennais

inhabitant of Rouen

name origin

From the Roman name, Latin Rotomagus, from the Gaulish name Ratumacos, from rato- (of unclear origin) and magos, from Proto-Celtic magos (“field”).

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges

cathedral dimensions
• height of bell tower : 33 m
• nave length: 55 m / 180ft
   (from chevet to the tower)
• nave width: 16 m / 50 ft

Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges

Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
is in Département 31 - Haute Garonne.
The post code is 31510.

approximate population : 270
average altitude : 515 m

West facade of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges

Note that the West front has Romanesque door and window openings.

La basilique Saint-Quentin

cathedral dimensions
• length : 123 metres
• width : 52 metres
• nave height : 34 metres

Saint Quentin

approximate population : 55,407
average altitude : 82 metres

Abbaye de Saint-Sever

cathedral dimensions
   • nave length : 31 m
   • nave width:18.4 m
   • transept length: 35 m
   • transept width: 40 m
   • vault height: 14.7 m

Saint-Sever

approximate population : 4,700
altitude: 26 m - 118 m

Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais de Sées

cathedral dimensions

overall length 83.60 m
width of the nave 9,10 m
width of the nave and aisles 21,55 m
height of the nave under keystone 24 m
height of the aisles under keystone 12 m
tower height 70 m
lantern-tower - height under the vault : 30 m

Sées

approximate population : 4,236 [2014]
average altitude : 170-321 m 
département : Orne, 61

West front, Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais de Sées

name origin
Sées owes its name to the Sagii, a Gallic tribe. The name of Sées comes from Sagiensis, derived from the Celtic (Gaulish) sag - "who seeks", alao found in the tribal name of Tectosages, or the name Sagius, "the seeker, the snoop (hunter?)".

Until the end of the eighteenth century, this name was spelled Séez. This script has been preserved by the Catholic Church (Diocese of Seez, Bishop of Seez). The official spelling Sées dates back to the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, following the Italian campaign, to avoid homonymy with the then French Séez de Savoie

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Senlis

cathedral dimensions
• exterior length : 76 m
• interior length : 70 m
• nave width : 28.5 m
• height under vaults : 23.5 m

Senlis

approximate population : 16,000
average altitude : 75 m (ranging from 47m to 140m)

Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais de Soissons

cathedral dimensions
exterior length : 116 m
external nave width : 26 m
interior width of the nave: 21.5 m
western facade width : 32 m
height, choir vaulting : 31 m

Soissons

approximate population : 29,439
average altitude : 46 m

Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Toul

cathedral dimensions
• total length : 98 m
• transept length : 50 m
• transept width : 15 m
• nave height (under the vaults) : 32 m
• tower height : 65 m
• west facade width : 37 m

Toul

approximate population : 17,700
average altitude : 205 m

La Cathédrale Saint Gatien de Tours

cathedral dimensions
• overall length : 100 m/330 ft
• width : 28 m/92 ft
• north tower height : 68 m/223 ft
• south tower height : 69 m/226 ft
                               392 steps
• nave length : 90 metres
• nave width : 32 metres
• nave height : 29 metres
• transept length : 48 metres
• transept width : 10 metres
• transept height : 29 metres
• 15 windows in the apse

Tours

approximate population : 133 000
average altitude : 44–109 m/144–358 ft
département: Indre-et-Loire (37)

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Troyes

cathedral dimensions
• overall length : 114 m
• width, western façade : 45 m
• length, nave : 50 m
• height, nave : 29.50 m

Troyes

approximate population : 60,785
average altitude : 107 m

West front of the cathedral at Troyes,
image by Vida Hunt Francis

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Verdun

cathedral dimensions
• nave length : 94 m
• nave width : 12.4 m
• width at transept : 37 m
• height under vaults : 18.5 m

Verdun

approximate population : 20,000
average elevation : 570 m