Notre-Dame de la Basse-Œuvre
When work on the Gothic cathedral came to a halt, part of the nave of the former 10th-century cathedral was preserved, offering a precious witness to religious architecture from the late Carolingian period.
The memory of the Carolingian cathedral
The first known church on this site probably dates from the second half of the 10th century. It was much longer than the building we see today and ranked among the largest churches of its time.
Excavations carried out beneath the Gothic cathedral have revealed the existence of a vast transept as well as the apsidioles of an even earlier building. The history of the Basse-Œuvre is therefore linked to several successive phases of construction.
A thousand years of history
The building preserved today bears witness to the transformations of Beauvais’s cathedral complex.
The former cathedral
Likely built in the second half of the century, at the end of the Carolingian era.
The remodelled façade
The west façade is altered following a fire.
A new building project
After the choir is destroyed, a new cathedral is begun further east.
The ceramic decoration
The nave notably receives a work by Charles Lévêque dedicated to Saint Dominic.
The western façade
The west façade originally included at least a porch, and possibly a tower. It was remodelled in the 11th century following a fire.
Above the large window, three carved figures draw the eye. They come from an even older building and were reused within the masonry.
Three bays preserved out of nine
At its largest extent, the nave of the former cathedral had nine bays. The building visible today preserves only three of them.
Its simple volumes, broad arcades and austere walls contrast sharply with the immense Gothic elevation of Saint Peter’s Cathedral, which rises just behind it.
The ceramics of the Beauvaisis
The 19th century was a flourishing period for ceramics in the Beauvaisis region. The Basse-Œuvre preserves one example, created by Charles Lévêque in 1884.
The composition depicts the giving of the rosary to Saint Dominic and forms part of a particularly rich painted architectural decor.
The passage into Saint-Pierre
The passage leading to the Gothic cathedral preserves the remains of three further bays of the former nave. Their arches were reinforced to bear the weight of Saint-Pierre’s western wall.
A powerful 16th-century buttress closes off this part of the building. Like its counterpart on the outside, it rises well above the roofline of the Basse-Œuvre.
The excavations and the ancient paving
Archaeological research has shed light on the dimensions of the former cathedral and the different stages of its history.
The excavations
The most significant campaigns were led by Émile Chani. They did not, however, reach the apse of the former choir, which was destroyed when construction began on the Haute-Œuvre.
The original paving
Several sections of the ancient floor have been uncovered. This paving lies roughly 1.85 metres below the present-day level.
A monument preserved by chance
The Gothic cathedral’s unfinished state allowed part of the earlier building to survive.
An architectural contrast
The austerity of the Basse-Œuvre stands in direct dialogue with the exceptional verticality of Saint-Pierre.
A major archaeological site
The underground remains provide insight into several buildings and the evolution of the cathedral complex.
Discover the cathedral complex of Beauvais
The Basse-Œuvre and Saint Peter’s Cathedral form an exceptional architectural ensemble, bringing together nearly a thousand years of history on a single site.
