Troyes Cathedral
| Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul |
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Exterior of Troyes Cathedral
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| Basic information | |
| Location |
France 
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| Geographic coordinates | 48°18′1″N 4°4′53″E / 48.30028°N 4.08139°ECoordinates: 48°18′1″N 4°4′53″E / 48.30028°N 4.08139°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Diocese of Troyes |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1208 |
| Completed | 17th century |
Troyes Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Troyes) is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Troyes in Champagne, France. It is a national monument and is the seat of the Bishop of Troyes.
The site has been used for religious buildings since at least the 4th century, when an oratory stood on the site. A cathedral was built in the 9th century, but was badly damaged by Norman invasions and was replaced in the 10th century, from about 940, when bishop Milo built a Romanesque cathedral. This building was the location of the Council of Troyes that opened on 13 January 1128/29, at which the Order of the Knights Templar was confirmed and its rule established. The Romanesque cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1188.
Construction of the present Gothic cathedral was ordered in about 1200 by bishop Garnier de Traînel and begun under bishop Hervé in 1208. Work continued until the 17th century. The cathedral only has one tower, St. Peter's; St. Paul's tower to the south was never built, and the building is thus still in fact unfinished. A steeple, with a height of 110 metres, once stood over the crossing: it was ruined by a tornado in 1365, and struck by lightning in 1700, after which it was not rebuilt.
The cathedral structure has suffered other natural disasters: part of the choir was destroyed in a hurricane in 1228, and the roof was set alight by lightning in 1389.
The earliest part is the 13th century choir. The elaborate façade dates from the beginning of the 16th century. The three main portals are the work of the architect Martin Chambiges. The cathedral escaped destruction during the French Revolution, but was de-Christianised and turned into a Temple of Abundance for several years.
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