#1245

"Co-Operation" Vesna: Dogs to Watch Out For - 22/05/26

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PT: 1245: Turidamsel /end PT

DEFINITION ⦂⠀A variant of "turigirl" for turians/vincians/gays who are a "damsel", instead of a "girl".

PT: Definition: A variant of "turigirl" for turians/vincians/gays who are a "damsel", instead of a "girl". /end PT

ADDITIONAL ⦂⠀Coined on the 2nd of June, 2026.

PT: Additional: Coined on the 2nd of June, 2026. /end PT

TAGGING ⦂⠀@c1rcus-of-silliness @dearestchild @fem-mogai @goregender @orientation-archive? @radiomogai

Watcher from Slay the Spire

Bourges Cathedral

Bourges Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Stephen, is a Gothic cathedral located in Bourges, Le Cher, central France. Built from 1195 to 1245, the cathedral is one of the largest in Europe and contains many magnificent stained glass windows which date to the 13th century. Bourges Cathedral is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Renewal & Expansion

Legend has it that today's cathedral is situated on the spot Saint Ursinus founded a church in the 3rd century. More certain is the existence of a Romanesque cathedral at the site from the 11th century, credited to the efforts of Archbishop Gauzlin (1013-1030). This church was expanded in the mid-12th century under the guidance of Archbishop Pierre de La Châtre (1141-1171). Exterior architectural elements and sculptures of this later version were reused in the present Gothic cathedral. By the final decade of the 12th century, the Romanesque cathedral became too small for the city's needs, now the centre of an expanded diocese, and so the people of Bourges began plans to build a new cathedral in the High Gothic style, the first such edifice in France south of the Loire river.

The project, guided by Archbishop Henri de Sully (1183-99) and funded both by his own large donation and collectors who knocked on doors for donations across the entire region, was certainly an ambitious one, especially so for a church with, as yet, no sacred relics of its own or a place on the pilgrimage trails that crisscrossed Europe. The name of the master architect who designed the building is not known for certain. Construction got underway from 1295, and after 1299, the project came under the supervision of Guillaume du Donjon. It was this former Cistercian abbot who managed to raise more much-needed funds for the project by acquiring a number of prestigious relics, amongst them the jawbone of Saint Stephen (in French, St. Étienne). Donations from visitors who came to see such relics were a great boost to the decades-long building project. Guillaume du Donjon died in 1209, and he was subsequently made a saint for his efforts in giving Bourges its great cathedral; his remains now lie behind the choir.

By 1215, the cathedral was taking shape and ready to receive its stained glass windows, but for some reason – most likely a lack of finances and the architectural problem of just how to incorporate the Romanesque portals into the new structure – the great project stalled for a decade. There had also been some protests from the Cistercian monks of Loroy whose forests had been seriously depleted in the search for timber for the construction project. Work eventually began again in 1225 but was limited in progress due to costs. Nevertheless, the building work kept going, albeit slowly, so that it was not until around 1245 that the cathedral could be described as being more or less finished. The towers still needed extensions and the exterior sculptures were added as they came along. There were setbacks, too, notably a fire in 1259 and the appearance of worrying cracks in the vaulting as the foundations struggled to support the massive weight of masonry. Various running repairs were conducted over the following decades. A plan to add bells to the towers was scrapped as too risky, and so they became known as "tours sourdes" or "deaf towers". Finally, on 5 May 1324, the cathedral was officially dedicated to Saint Stephen. In April 1422, the future Charles VII of France (r. 1422-1461) married Marie d'Anjou in the cathedral.

The cathedral continued to receive additions over the years, such as windows in the main façade, but disaster struck on 31 December 1506 when the North Tower collapsed, as many had feared it would for two centuries. Rebuilt over the next 50 years, the new North Tower was built, and at 65 metres (213 ft), it was much higher than the old one. Finally, the tower was given its bells. Since the 16th century, the cathedral has withstood further misfortune and attacks ranging from Huguenot vandals to tasteless architects. Restoration work began in the 19th century and, as with all such large buildings, continues today as a never-ending process.