Laon Cathedral | The canonical quarter

In the Middle Ages, Laon's canonical quarter, enclosed by walls and gates, formed a veritable city within the city. It was completely rebuilt in the second half of the 12th century. It comprised around fifty houses where the canons lived separately, surrounded by their families, chaplains and servants. The members of the chapter met every morning in the cloister for prayers, attended Mass, ate their meals together in the refectory, and for major decisions, they gathered in the chapter house.

Today, the walls and gates that enclosed the canonical quarter have almost disappeared and the medieval houses of the canons are no longer visible, except for the one in the ruelle Pourrier: you can recognise it by its two round chimneys...