The work of at least four architects, the building operations extended over two centuries, yet it has retained rare unity both of plan and style. The whole is so harmonious as to give the impression of being the effort of a single master-mind.
Historical Account
The Cathedral stands on the site of former churches, successively erected between the 5th and 13th centuries. On the night of May 6, 1210, a terrible fire destroyed the then existing edifice, together with a portion of the city.
THE CATHEDRAL BEFORE THE WAR
Exactly one year later, Archbishop Aubri de Humbert laid the first stone of a new edifice, which was destined to become the Cathedral of to-day.
Begun in 1211, the building went on without pause for twenty years, after which, there was a slackening, followed by a vigorous resumption in 1299. Another pause occurred during the Hundred Years' War. The Cathedral, less the tower spires provided for in the plans, was finished in 1428. The spires were not yet built when the great fire of July 24th, 1481, entirely destroyed the roof of the Cathedral, further deferring their construction, which was subsequently abandoned.
The funds for this colossal work were furnished partly by the clergy and the people, partly by Papal Indulgences granted to donors, and by collections in Christian lands, especially in the ecclesiastical province of Rheims. The wonderful plans of the Cathedral were long believed to be the work of Robert de Coucy, whereas the original ones were in fact drawn by Jean d'Orbais, who began their execution between 1211 and 1231. His work was continued with wonderful fidelity by Jean-le-Loup, from 1231-1247; by Gaucher of Rheims in 1247-1255, Bernard of Soissons from 1255 to 1290, Robert de Coucy until 1311, and afterwards by Maître Colard, Gilles le Maçon, Jean de Dijon and Colard de Givry in the course of the 14th and 15th centuries.
