点评:The St Gatien Cathedral is the main tourist sight in Tours. It's stunning. We spent much, much longer here than we’d planned to.
Even before we went in, we took some time just to look at the wonderfully flamboyant Gothic facade.
Flanked by two tall towers, with flying buttresses, rose windows and elaborate sculpture, it’s so big and so detailed that we quickly realised it was best seen from a distance so we crossed the road and stood some way back in order to take it all in.
Building the cathedral took more than 4 centuries. Construction started in 1170 and didn’t finish until 1547. You can see why it took so long.
Inside was equally impressive. Even if you are pressed for time, it’s worth going inside. The magnificent stained glass windows, some of which date back to the 13th century, are almost overwhelming. There’s so much to take in. Large information boards provide details of each of the glass panels, making it much easier to understand what you are looking at.
Apart from the stained glass windows, the Cathedral’s most treasured belonging is the very sad 15th century royal tomb of the two small sons of King Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany. Anne was just 14 years old when she was married to Charles VIII. Their first son, Charles Orlando died of measles at the age of 3 and their second son, Charles de France died just 25 days after birth. Charles & Anne went on to have six or seven children but none survived to adulthood. It’s thought that perhaps two of their other children may be entombed here also. What you see here is a very moving monument with the marble figures of both little boys, laid out on on the tomb. Charles de France still wears his christening robes.
Entry to the Cathedral is free and I’d highly recommend allowing some time to look through the church properly.
翻译:圣加蒂安大教堂是图尔最主要的旅游景点,简直美得令人惊叹。我们在这里停留的时间远远超出了预期。
甚至在进入大教堂之前,我们就花了一些时间来欣赏那华丽至极的哥特式外观。
大教堂两侧矗立着两座高塔,还有飞扶壁、玫瑰窗以及精美的雕刻装饰。它既庞大又精致,我们很快意识到只有从远处观赏才能领略其全貌,于是便穿过马路,站在稍远的地方尽情欣赏。建造这座大教堂耗时超过4个世纪。工程始于1170年,直到1547年才竣工。由此便能理解为何需要这么长的时间了。
大教堂内部同样令人叹为观止。即便时间紧迫,也值得进去一睹为快。那些精美的彩色玻璃窗堪称惊艳,其中一些甚至可以追溯到13世纪。实在有太多值得细细欣赏的内容了。大型说明牌上还详细介绍了每块玻璃窗的历史与特色。这样就能更轻松地理解自己所看到的内容了。
除了彩绘玻璃窗之外,这座大教堂最珍贵的藏品便是15世纪时国王查理八世与布列塔尼的安妮所生的两个幼子的王室墓穴。安妮嫁给查理八世时年仅14岁。他们的长子夏尔·奥兰多3岁时因患麻疹去世,次子夏尔·德·法兰西则在出生后仅25天便夭折了。查尔斯与安妮后来共生了六七个孩子,但没有一个活到成年。据推测,他们的其他两个孩子或许也安葬在这里。眼前这座纪念碑十分感人:墓碑上雕刻着两个小男孩的大理石雕像。查尔斯·德·法兰西身上仍穿着洗礼时穿的长袍。
进入大教堂无需门票,我强烈建议您花些时间仔细参观这座教堂。