Autun - Cathédrale Saint-Lazare

Augustodunum (today Autun) was founded during the reign of Augustus, after whom it was named. It was an important settlement, the Roman theather, partly unearthed, could seat about 15.000 people, there is a Roman temple, walls...

But it is the Cathédrale Saint-Lazare and the wonderful carvings,
that made me return again and again.

There had been a church here earlier, that was just too small, when Autun became a center of pilgrimage, after relics of St. Lazarus were kept here since about 970. Just like Vezelay, 90kms north, where the relics of St. Lazarus´ sister St. Maria Magdalena were kept at that time. In 1120 it was decided to construct this larger and more suitable cathedral. At that time this construction was influenced by Cluny III, that was a little older. After severe damage during the Hundred Years' War, rebuilding and remodeling the romanesque structure started.

The tympanum, a masterpiece, signed by Gislebertus, survived accidently pretty undamaged, as it was hidden under thick plaster for many decades.

Many other carvings, carved by Gislebertus (or his workshop) are in and outside the cathedral.

Seen here may be Saint Jerome extracting a thorn from a lion's paw. This was "the beginning of a beautiful friendship". The lion stayed with Jerome, one of the four Latin doctors of the Church, and later became his personal attribute.

This capital is on the very left side of the portal. It corresponds to the very right one.
See PiP (right corner).