Pontoise Cathedral, Gothic cathedral in Pontoise, France
Pontoise Cathedral is a Gothic structure featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and expansive stained glass windows that cast colored light across the interior. The building combines medieval architecture with Renaissance elements visible on its side portals.
Built as a parish church around the mid-12th century, it was first served by a priest named Robert, recorded in 1165. A hurricane on 30 October 1309 brought down the central bell tower and part of the nave, which the town's butchers repaired by 1325. Two western bays, a new facade and a tower were added from the mid-15th century, and the see of Pontoise was created on 9 October 1966.
The church is dedicated to Saint Malo (Saint Maclou), a Breton saint. Its double cure, shared by two priests until 1736, may stem from the earlier chapel of Saint Eustace, founded in 1110 and served by vicars of Saint-Mellon. The north portal, finished in 1540, opens onto the place du Grand-Martroy, where the former town hall stood.
The cathedral stands in the upper part of Pontoise's old centre: the north and west fronts face Place du Petit-Martroy and Rue de la Coutellerie, while the chevet overlooks Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville from a high base. The south front closes the view down Rue Thiers and its monumental stair. A secondary portal opens in the north transept onto Place du Grand-Martroy, and the south transept is reached by a stair climbing from Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville.
The central portal displays intricate Flamboyant Gothic detailing with elaborate carved ornamentation. This fine detail work contrasts with the smoother Renaissance additions visible on the building's side sections.
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