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Origin and history

Saint-Dié Cathedral of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, located in the Vosges department, is a Roman Catholic monument dating back to the seventh century with Saint Deodat (or Dieudonné), the founder of the city of Ireland. Originally abbey church, it became a collegiate church in the 10th century under the authority of a chapter of secular canons. René II, Duke of Lorraine (1473–1508), considered her the fourth cathedral of his duchy after Metz, Toul and Verdun. It was officially elevated to the rank of cathedral in 1777 by Pope Pius VI, when the bishopric of Saint-Dié was created.

The building, marked by several fires during its history, suffered a major destruction in 1944 when the Germans blasted it, causing its vault to collapse. Rebuilt identically, it was rebuilt in 1974 and equipped with modern furniture, including contemporary stained glass windows installed in the 1980s. These stained glass windows, designed by artists such as Jean Bazaine and Jean Le Moal, explore the theme of death and resurrection, echoing post-war reconstruction. The cathedral, classified as a historical monument since 1886, thus embodies a synthesis between medieval heritage, baroque and modern artistic creation.

Architecturally, the cathedral combines a 12th century Romanesque nave, characterized by sculpted capitals with complex symbols (griffons, sirens, plants), and a late Gothic choir (late 13th century) inspired by the Champagne style. The classical facade, built between 1711 and 1714 by the Italian Giovan Betto, is inspired by the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, reflecting the links between René II of Lorraine and the Venetian Republic. The adjacent cloister, one of the largest in eastern France, dates from the 15th and 16th centuries and houses remains like a 16th century mural commemorating Christine's visit to Denmark.

The church of Our Lady of Galilee, joined to the cathedral, was initially used by clergymen and their hosts. Its square tower, with thick walls, housed a school until the 13th century. The two buildings, connected by the cloister, form a coherent cathedral group, despite their distinct styles. The cathedral is also home to a thousand-year-old linden tree, classified as a "remarkable tree" in 2017, an example of the links between the monument and local life since the Middle Ages.

The furniture includes historical pieces such as the Gothic tomb of Burnequin de Parroye (1369) and 14th century murals, including a representative of Pope Leo IX granting privileges to the chapter. These works, with a legal vocation, illustrate the conflicts between the chapter of Saint-Dié and that of Toul, or between the Duke of Lorraine and the Canons. After 1944, the reconstruction incorporated contemporary elements, such as the organs of Pascal Queurin (2009) and the liturgical furniture of Philippe Kaeppelin, symbolizing the resilience of the place.

Finally, the square in front of the cathedral, renovated after the war, commemorates the printing in 1507 of the Cosmographiae introductio by Martin Waldseemüller, where the name "America" appeared for the first time. This site, once occupied by the "Baptism House of America", highlights the intellectual role of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in world cartographic history.

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