Cahors Cathedral facade West
by RicardMN Photography
Title
Cahors Cathedral facade West
Artist
RicardMN Photography
Medium
Photograph
Description
Cahors Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Cahors) is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Cahors, Occitanie, France. A national monument, it is an example of the transition between the late Romanesque and Gothic architectural traditions.
The church was built by bishop Gerard de Cardaillac in the 11th century, over a church erected in the 7th century by St. Didier of Cahors. It was consecrated by Pope Calixtus II on September 10, 1119, and completed around 1135. The church, located in the city's centre, has the sturdy appearance of a fortified edifice: at the time, the local bishops were in fact also powerful feudal lords in their role as counts and barons of Cahors.
The façade, renovated in 1316–1324 by Guillaume de Labroue, cousin of Pope John XXII, confirms this impression: it resembles a heavy castle wall, consisting in a porch surmounted by a bell tower enclosed between two towers. The six windows, as well as those on the porch sides, are rather narrow; the only elements characterizing it as a church are the magnificent portal with triple splays, surmounted by a gallery of small arches, and the large rose window.
On the northern side is a secondary façade in Romanesque style, also fortified.
The decoration and interior design were changed in the 17th and 18th centuries with the Counter-Reformation - the baroque altarpiece, the chapel organ, the tribune of the canons and the pulpit are the highlights.
In the 19th century the domes were cleared of plasterwork which obscured them from the outside while the choir was subject to a complete refurbishment in 1870 under the auspices of Bishop Grimardias.
A way-point on the Via Podiensis, the road from Le Puy to Santiago de Compostela, the Cathedral of St Etienne is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. (Description from Wikipedia)
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August 7th, 2018
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