North Nave

The North Nave is one of the four great naves of the Mynster, extending from the central chancel toward the north façade of the concent’s central complex. It functions as the public‑facing nave: when visitors from extramuros are permitted, they are guided in through the Day Gate and channeled to the portal on the north side, proceeding up the center aisle to view the rites within.

First Appearance and Context

The North Nave is described in an account of the Mynster’s layout and visitor access, where it is identified as the place from which guests may observe the daily aut when conditions allow. From this nave, onlookers can watch proceedings such as the winding of the clock at Provener, while remaining separated from the avout in the chancel by a screen.

Structure and Features

Like the other three cardinal naves, the North Nave is a broad, high hall flung out from the base of the Mynster. A darkened perforated screen stands at its inner end, opening visually onto the bright chancel beyond. The screen’s treatment makes it easy to see into the chancel but difficult to see past it, creating the illusion that each nave stands alone and “owns” the chancel. Visitors enter by a portal in the north façade and move along a central aisle toward this screen.

Observation and Restrictions

Access for visitors is supervised by the Ita. Visitors are seated behind the north screen. The bright screen and the dark volume beyond limit what the naked eye can discern in other naves, but the Ita review and may forbid the use of recording devices whose optical capabilities—such as zoom or magnification, low‑light enhancement, and image stabilization—could capture images across the chancel and through the screens. On at least one occasion, a planned speely recording from the North Nave was disallowed for this reason.

Relationships and Functions

• Part of the Mynster within the broader concent, aligned to the north.
• Serves as the designated viewing space for extramuros guests admitted under supervision to observe auts, including Provener.
• Supervision includes placement behind the north screen and enforcement of equipment restrictions by the Ita.
• Complemented by the other naves: the south nave reserved for Centenarians, the west nave used by Unarians, and the east nave largely formal and little used.

Current Status

Open to visitors when permitted by the math’s authorities and when outside conditions are deemed safe and orderly. Use is subject to Ita oversight and restrictions on imaging devices that could see beyond the intended field of view.