THE DOOR

 

THE DOOR

 

Why is there a plane, wooden, red door at the entrance to the magnificent gothic cathedral in the small French village of Bourges – a cathedral started in 1195 and completed in 1203?

Inside the cathedral are the crypts of John, the Duke of Berry and Joan II, the countess of Auvergne. Throughout the ages, no one has ever explained why the imposing cathedral was erected in this tiny village or why the door was painted red.

It has been suggested that its color was to honor the Duke of Berry, imitating the color of raspberries that once grew in abundance in the region.

 

 

 

 

Another theory that persists is the legend of Joan II. She allegedly had an affair with one of John’s brothers, Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy. Their supposedly secret affair was forbidden by another of John’s bothers, King Charles V of France.

The lovers, under excessive pressure from Charles to end the affair, made a suicide pact. Joan acted on her pledge, but her lover, Philip, did not!

Many now believe that Joan’s ghost haunts the cathedral behind the red door. No one enters through that door after dark.

Others claim that they can hear a low moaning sound, they attribute to Joan.

Still others say they can see her image, etched on the door, in the evening dusk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many questions remain. Why was this immense structure erected in this small village? Why were Joan and John interred therein? Most important: why the red door?

Joan remains famous in the eyes of many for saving the life of her nephew, King Charles VI of France, during the disasterous “Ball of the Burning Men”. During that battle, the king and five of his nobles donned red capes, the exact color of that cathedral door!