Enter the courtyard of the Bishop’s Palace by the door of the Margueritte College (see [p. 43]). The Seminary seen in the background of the photo has been completely destroyed since 1916. The door with steps in front led formerly to a staircase descending to the Cloister. In May, 1919, this staircase was easily accessible, in spite of the débris all around.
COURTYARD OF THE BISHOP’S PALACE AND THE CATHEDRAL IN 1916
The Bishop’s Palace
This fine spacious building was erected in 1725–1755 from the plans of Robert de Cotte. It has two terraces and a garden, with a view over the whole town. Under the First Empire it was a senatorial palace.
At the time of the separation of the Church from the State it was turned into a museum. The latter contains a fine collection of medals and coins, also numerous fragments of the ancient Abbey of St. Vanne, which was inside the Citadel. These fragments include the remains of a Pagan altar, a Corinthian capital with Barbarian ornamentation, and an ivory comb with inscriptions, said to have been given by Emperor St. Henri to the Abbot of St. Vanne in 1024.
THE BISHOP’S PALACE. FAÇADE LOOKING ON THE
COURTYARD AND ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM.
