Évreux Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Évreux)

The cathedral has survived an extraordinary number of catastrophes throughout its history. It was destroyed by fire in 1119 during an attack by Henry I Beauclerc, rebuilt, then damaged by additional fires in 1194 and 1198. During the French Revolution, it escaped major vandalism that destroyed many French cathedrals. Most recently, on June 9, 1940, German bombing during World War II caused significant damage, and the painstaking restoration was only completed in 1973 - making it one of the last major French cathedrals to recover from wartime destruction.

The "Jaune d'Évreux" technique that made this cathedral famous was a closely guarded secret of medieval glassmakers. The process involved applying a mixture of silver salts (chloride, nitrate, or sulfate) combined with ochre to the reverse side of the glass before firing. When heated, the silver penetrated the glass surface, creating permanent yellow to orange-gold colors. This breakthrough meant artists could paint detailed golden highlights directly onto glass for the first time, revolutionizing stained glass art across Europe.

In 912 AD, the cathedral was already described as "one of the most venerable churches in Normandy" - making it a significant religious site even before the current Gothic structure was built. The diocese of Évreux was established as early as the 4th century, making it one of the oldest Christian communities in France. The cathedral's dedication ceremony on March 19, 1548, was performed by Jean de la Massonaye, though the building had been in use for worship for centuries before its official consecration.