Évreux Cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Évreux, Normandy, France

Évreux Cathedral is built of pale grey stone, with a square tower rising in stages to a domed top on the left of the west front and a circular rose window above the recessed arched portal. On the right side a tall openwork spire crowns a square tower with pinnacles, and the long body has a steep dark grey roof edged with small spires. Tall pointed windows with stone tracery stand between buttresses, and a low stone wall with a metal railing runs in front.

A church existed here by 912, when Archbishop Francon of Rouen showed it to Duke Rollon. After a fire in 1119, a new Romanesque cathedral was built and consecrated in 1077; its nave arcades survive. From 1220 Gothic rebuilding began, and Gautier de Varinfroy directed work from 1253 on the upper nave and chevet.

The cathedral houses collections of stained glass windows from the 13th to 16th centuries, depicting religious figures and Norman personalities. These windows tell stories from the Bible and local life, showing the artistic skills of past generations.

The west entrance opens under the two late-16th-century towers; the nave runs seven bays toward the choir, and the 2006 Quoirin organ rises at the west end from the triforium to the vault. The bishop's palace of the 15th century adjoins the south side, so the south flank is partly screened. Look up at the 78 m Clocher d'Argent spire from the outside, since the missing wooden belfry of the south-west tower is best seen from the surrounding streets.

The south-west tower once carried a wooden octagonal belfry and spire, which were never rebuilt after the Second World War; the tower now ends flat. The north tower, the bell tower, has foundations said to date from 1392 and was finished in 1417. The 78-metre spire, called Clocher d'Argent, was rebuilt after wartime bombing.