Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, King Henry IV of France is said to have declared the church of Caudebec-en-Caux to have been the most beautiful chapel in his kingdom. The fact that it does not have a transept may explain why the king referred to it as a chapel not a church. Typical of the Flamboyant Gothic style, the highlight of this church is the finely decorated west portal. In all there are 333 sculptured human figures, representing saints and aspects of daily life. Of particular interest is the figure playing an old Norman musical instrument – the Loure, a kind of bag-pipe that is no longer played in Normandy. Sadly, much of this decoration was destroyed by the Calvinists during the Religious wars and then again later during World War Two, but it has since been restored.
Around the edge of the roof, and engraved in Gothic calligraphy is one of the verses of the Magnificat, also known as the Song of Mary and one of the oldest of the Christian hymns. Stained-glass windows date to the 15th and 16th centuries.
References:The Cathedral of Saint Mary Major, often called Lisbon Cathedral or simply the Sé, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Lisbon, Portugal. The oldest church in the city, it is the seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon. The cathedral has survived many earthquakes and has been modified, renovated and restored several times. It is nowadays a mix of different architectural styles.
The site where it stands was the principal mosque of Lisbon when it was an Arab settlement. The construction of the cathedral started around 1150, three years after the city was conquered from the Moors during the Second Crusade. Shortly after the victory the English knight Gilbert of Hastings was named bishop of the city of Lisbon.
One good reason to visit the Cathedral is to visit its charming cloisters located in the back. There are several tombs in the cathedral, the most notable of which is the beautifully sculpted tomb of Lopo Fernandes Pacheco and his wife.