The cathedral Saint-Tugdual in Tr.C3.A9guier Tréguier Cathedral

an icon depicting saint tugdual

the existence of fine cathedral in small town due fact tréguier become place of pilgrimage 2 men; saint tugdual, welshman , saint yves. should however, note tréguier no longer seat of bishop, bishopric having been abolished in 1801 when divided between diocese of quimper , saint-brieuc. church still referred tréguier cathedral.

in in 6th-century anglo-saxon invasions caused saint tugdual leave wales , settle in brittany. tugdual had been pupil @ monastery of llanwit major founded saint iltud, now, mother , several fellow monks, braved seas , settled in brittany @ point rivers guidy, jaudy , estuary joined , , in around 532, founded monastery there called landreguer ( monastery of 3 rivers ) , around monastery , village of minihy grew town of tréguier. tugdual made bishop breton king, king childebert , landreguer monastery emerged cathedral dedicated saint andré (andrew).

the norman invasions of 9th-century saw tréguier , cathedral ravaged bishop, monseigneur gorennan, fled , had tugdual s body moved chartres. there no bishop in residence 90 years, finally, invaders forced out alan ii, duke of brittany

the bishopric of tréguier created in 950 first bishops had content cathedral made wood until in around 970 bishop gratias encouraged building of new cathedral in romanesque style. of building left today north transept tower known hastings tower, named rather strangely after 1 of leaders of norman invaders, , of internal columns or pillars.

it in 1339 construction of gothic cathedral started, during bishopric of richard de poirier. work commenced west porch 2 years later war of breton succession forced further building halted. brittany exhausted , ruined war, fought between de blois , de monfort families, former assisted french , latter english. in 1345, english invaded area , used cathedral part of garrison destroying of building in process save tomb of saint yves left untouched. treaty of guérande brought fighting halt , allowed building work restarted, firstly 1363 1371 during bishopric of bishop begaignon when nave , side-aisles completed porche du peuple , during bishopric of bishop morelli between 1385 , 1400. morelli s coat of arms can seen in vaulting keystone of second choir crossing.

a view of cathédrale saint-tugdual in tréguier. note north flank of choir, spire of tour des cloches , sanctus , hastings towers , west gallery of cloisters.

in around 1432, south porch completed under bishop pierre pédru , bishop jean de ploeuc had frescoes , stained glass windows added cathedral although windows removed during revolution.

in 1420, duke jean v had chapel created buried alongside saint-yves, end of 15th-century saw building of cloisters, 1515 saw construction of choir s flying buttresses, , in 1648 stalls dated 1509 restored.

between 1785 , 1787, stone spire replaced existing lead-covered spire, partly financed generous loan louis xvi. bishop augustin le mintier instigated this, , plans , services used of civil engineer françois anfray.

in 1793 cathedral sacked battalion of revolutionaries in 1801 , after concordat returned being place of worship. cathedral restored , prosper mérimée took active part in cathedral s restitution in role inspecteur général des monuments historiques .

in 1860 houses , shops around cathedral cleared create space , allow cathedral seen without obstruction, cloisters restored in 1910 , in 1946 building given status of basilique mineure .