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Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France

Ancienne cathédrale Saint-Samson

Dol-de-Bretagne, Ille-et-Vilaine, France

The record

Designation
Historic monument, classified (classé)
Protection
classé MH
Extent of protection
Cathédrale Saint-Samson (ancienne) (cad. AC 26) : classement par liste de 1840
Protection dates
1840 : classé MH
Type
cathédrale
Main period of construction
13e siècle, 14e siècle, 15e siècle, 16e siècle
Later work
16e siècle, 17e siècle
Dates
1520
Ownership
propriété de la commune
Address
place de la Cathédrale
Commune
Dol-de-Bretagne
Département
Ille-et-Vilaine
Region
Bretagne
Country
France
Coordinates
48.55090, -1.75555
Mérimée reference
PA00090544

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IGN France — Géoportail

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1750 map "Composite 4: Carte de France." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

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This record on the Ministère de la Culture's POP platform ↗

The Ministère de la Culture's notice

La cathédrale de Dol, fondée au 9e siècle, fut brûlée en 1203 par les troupes de Jean Sans Terre. L'édifice actuel, qui dut être commencé peu après, est un beau spécimen d'architecture gothique d'influence normande. La reconstruction débuta par la nef, continuée par le transept et terminée vers 1265 par le choeur. Une importante campagne de travaux au 14e siècle voit la construction de la tour de croisée, du grand porche sud, de la salle capitulaire et de la chapelle à pans coupés élevée à l'est du choeur. Du 15e siècle datent les deux étages supérieurs de la tour sud, et des modifications du porche sud. La tour nord, mise en chantier en 1520, ne fut jamais achevée, et la façade occidentale a été remaniée aux 16e et 17e siècles.

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

The cathedral of Dol, founded in the 9th century, was burned in 1203 by the troops of John Lackland. The present building, which must have been begun shortly after, is a fine example of Gothic architecture with Norman influence. Reconstruction began with the nave, continued by the transept and completed around 1265 by the choir. A major campaign of works in the 14th century saw the construction of the crossing tower, the great south porch, the chapter house and the chapel with cut corners raised to the east of the choir. From the 15th century date the two upper storeys of the south tower, and modifications to the south porch. The north tower, begun in 1520, was never completed, and the west façade was altered in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Base Mérimée, Ministère de la Culture, data last updated 2026-09-17, reused under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab). Record text is reproduced unchanged. Ministère de la Culture · Licence Ouverte 2.0
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