Flamboyant – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetry, Thursday DoorsTags:, , , ,
West Facade, five porches, Saint Maclou Cathedral, Rouen Normandy France. Image credit: © Gunold | Dreamstime

five porches five bells

through storms arise flamboyant

resilient shepherds

*

Large portions of its stone fabric resurrected countless times since its consecration on June 6, 1521, Saint Maclou Cathedral in Rouen, North Normandy France, has suffered the effects of numerous disasters including, world wars, revolutions, storms, and the vicissitudes of pollution on its ‘lacelike’ limestone.

Today with its many restored features including its twice-resurrected 83-meter (272 feet) spire and its interior and facade revived to their original pale hues (2019), Saint Maclou Cathedral stands as a showcase example of the resilience of Flamboyant Gothic Architecture.

Featured Door** (and *Bonus Door)

Featured door: The principal entrance to Saint Maclou Cathedral, Upper Normandy, Rouen France is the middle of the three doorways that punctuate the unusual half-circle-shaped five-porch West facade. The featured doors’ two halves depict scenes in the life of Christ and the last judgment.

Main Entrance, West Facade, Saint Maclou Cathedral, Rouen, Normandy France: Image credit: ©  Jorge Tutor | Alamy Stock

**The bonus door is, believe it or not, more famous than this cathedral’s principal entrance!

Located to the left of the main entrance, the supplementary portal, known as the Porte des Fonts, stands as the eldest among the three portal doors (circa 1552 A.D.) The Porte des Fonts serves as the entrance to the Saint Maclou Cathedral’s baptismal font.

The Porte des Fonts‘ door carvings (image below) illustrate the parable of the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd is also the symbol of the city of Rouen (image below.)

West Facade, left portal Porte des Fonts, Saint Maclou Cathedral Rouen, France. Image credit: © Hemis | Alamy Stock Photo

Trivia #1. Did you know that the streets of Rouen and its cathedrals inspired some of the great painters: Monet, Sisley, Gauguin, and Picasso? Rouen’s museum, Musée des Beaux-Arts is home to some of their works. Victor Hugo gave Rouen its nickname in his 1831 poetry collection dubbing Rouen the “city of a hundred bell towers.”

Trivia #2: The five bells housed in the cathedral’s bell tower have been given affectionate names by Rouen’s denizens because of each bell’s distinct sound. The five bells are named Marie, Adrienne, Adèle, Joséphine, and Léontine.

Wider angle — Saint Maclou Cathedral, Rouen Upper Normandy, France

Side view, Saint Maclou Cathedral, Rouen Normandy France. Image credit: © Igor Abramovych | Dreamstime

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Teresa My Camera and I

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

55 thoughts on “Flamboyant – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors”

  4. Yes, that’s exactly how Shepherds do
    They bring you in from the cold
    I’d love to walk through where the parable of the good shepherd is crafted on the door of this majestic religious monument decorated in flamboyant lacelike limestone.

    ROUEN, beautiful word sound
    And haiku story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So beautifully stated… Shepherds bring you in from the cold.” I could not agree more with that statement and all the warmth that it conveys.

      Yes! Me too!!!. The sound of “Rouen” just dances around in my mind’s eye as I write and / or speak it out loud. I thought it was just me. How amazing is that!!
      Have a good one! Cheers.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I love this beautiful story you exquisitely penned in haiku Poet.
        It is strikingly beautiful and heartwarming. Yes the Shepherd story always has a special place in my heart.
        Hey great minds, feel alike… lol, I love the effect the word had on you.

        Thank you so much.
        Be of good cheer too.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. I love your haiku today, Suzette, and the post is wonderful. I am so glad people have repaired the cathedral so many times. The history of it and the town are too important to lose. I have no problem believing that portal Porte des Fonts is more famous – that’s a beautiful door, and parable of the Good Shepherd is one of my favorites.

    I hope you have a great end of the week and weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. What a lovely architecture of this cathedral, Suzette! Liked the bonus door, but your haiku, as always, portrays the magnificent structure very well.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I did not know that about The Good Shepherd and Rouen. It’s a beautiful symbol. The cathedral, like so many such buildings, seems so incongruous in the here and now. Thank goodness we have such remnants and the people who preserve them! I can look right at such a thing and still not believe it. (This might come through as Anonymous, but you probably suspect I’m Oddment.)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Maureen, I agree with you and I was thinking a similar thought yesterday in fact of how special it is that these buildings are copiously restored so that we get to see the history of the past in real tangible terms.
      Thank you for your gracious comment, Oddments. Blessings to you this day. Cheers.

      Like

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