The Great Staircase of Honour

In 1346, construction began on the Great Staircase of Honour that serves the Great Chapel. Jean de Louvres had to double the thickness of the Audience Hall wall to house the bays and intersecting ribs as they increased in height. The structure, formed from two sraight flights of stairs that turn back toward the core wall was an innovation found only in Italy at the time.

The wide staircase is lit by windows giving out onto the courtyard, and is flanked by rooms used as guard posts. In days gone by at each pillar there were three wooden doors with heavy iron-clad leaves, which were used to protect the staircase.

The magnitude which Jean de Louvres gave it was uncommon for the time and leant itself perfectly to the solemn majesty of the grand pontifical ceremonies of the day.
As you go down the staircase, you will notice an inscription in a cartouche, which refers to how the staircese was rebuilt by Vice-Legate Lascaris in1659, before Louis XIV’s visit.