Dol Cathedral

exterior

Dol Cathedral, interior

Dol Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Samson de Dol) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Dol-de-Bretagne, Brittany, dedicated to Saint Samson.

It was formerly the seat of the Archbishop of Dol, one of the nine ancient bishoprics of Brittany. The archbishopric was suppressed during the French Revolution and abolished by the Concordat of 1801, when it was merged into the dioceses of Rennes and St. Brieuc.

The building is notable for its eclectic mix of styles and idiosyncrasies, such as the incomplete north tower on the main west-facing entrance. The tower was begun in 1520 but never finished due to lack of funds. A local myth has it that the top was knocked off by the devil, who threw the nearby Dol menhir at the building, which was buried in the ground in consequence.

The south facade contains a small 13th-century porch, known as the Bishop's porch. This was supplemented by a much grander porch in the 15th century. The latter was decorated with biblical relief carvings by the sculptor Jean Boucher at the end of the 19th century.

Dimensions

• Exterior length: 93.50m
• Nave length: 39.25m
• Width of Nave : 17.05m
• Height below the vault of the Nave: 20.20m
• transept : 8.80m by 8.35m
• Length of the arms of the transept : 9.85m
• Length of choir: 27.55m
• Width of choir : 8.65m
• Height of the vault of choir: 20.50m
• Depth of choir with ambulatory: 31.80m
• Width of choir and sides: 18.35m
• Total width of choir with side chapels 26.05m

Source

Sources

• Catholic Hierarchy: Diocese of Dol