The cloister of Beauvais Cathedral
Nestled between Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the Saint-Pierre hall, and the former episcopal palace, the cloister holds several centuries of history, from the 11th to the 17th century.
Buildings raised over the centuries
An earlier cloister likely already stood on this site when the Basse-Œuvre was built, at the end of the 10th century. It has entirely disappeared.
The cloister visible today brings together elements from very different periods: the 11th-century Saint-Pierre hall, medieval remains, the Renaissance Chapter House, and brick-and-timber galleries reworked at the end of the 17th century.
A thousand-year history
Each part of the cloister reflects a different stage in the development of the cathedral precinct.
The first cloister
A now-vanished cloister probably accompanied the Basse-Œuvre.
The Saint-Pierre hall
Construction of the oldest surviving building around the cloister.
The Chapter House
It was built at the same time as the cathedral’s north transept.
The galleries
The brick galleries and timber framing take on their present-day appearance.
The Chapter House
Built in the early 16th century, it is contemporary with the north transept, with which it communicates.
Its elegant Renaissance-style windows contrast with the Gothic arcades that support the structure. This was the hall where the cathedral’s chapter of canons would meet.
The Saint-Pierre hall
The Saint-Pierre hall is the oldest of the buildings surrounding the cloister. While not strictly part of the cloister itself, it forms its western boundary.
It notably housed the assize court of the tribunal. A fire in 1995 unfortunately destroyed its roof frame.
A ground level deeply altered over time
The façade facing the street has been heavily reworked. Traces of former openings can still be made out, now largely buried below ground.
Their position shows that the street level has risen by nearly two meters since the 11th century.
The vaulted cellars
Beneath the hall lies a vaulted cellar arranged around a central passage.
Thirteen side cells open off it: six on the stairway side and seven on the opposite side.
The bishop’s gallery
This gallery allowed the bishop to walk directly from the cathedral to the episcopal palace.
It spanned the street and once continued via a similar structure all the way to the palace, now home to the Oise departmental museum.
The functions of the cloister
The ensemble connected the main spaces of religious, administrative, and judicial life around the cathedral.
Gathering the canons
The Chapter House hosted the meetings of the college of canons responsible for the running of the cathedral.
Connecting the buildings
The galleries provided passage between the cathedral, the chapter halls, and the episcopal palace.
Administering justice
The Saint-Pierre hall notably hosted the tribunal’s assize court.
Explore Beauvais’ cathedral precinct
The cloister forms a discreet link between Saint-Pierre Cathedral, Notre-Dame de la Basse-Œuvre, and the former episcopal palace.
