Agen Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Agen Cathedral
Agen Cathedral
Location	Agen, Lot-et-Garonne
Country	France
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Dedication	Saint Caprasius
Architecture
Architectural type	Romanesque and Gothic
Administration
Diocese	Agen

Agen Cathedral (in French: Cathédrale Saint-Caprais d'Agen) is a Roman Catholic church located in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France. It is named after Saint Caprasius. This important building was first built in the 12th century. It began as a special church for a group of priests called canons. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The cathedral was officially listed as a historic monument in France in 1863. It is also part of the famous Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. These are old pilgrim paths that lead to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

History of Agen Cathedral

The parts of Agen Cathedral we see today were mostly built in the 12th century. It was built as a collegiate church. This means it was a church for a group of priests, or canons. They dedicated the church to Saint Caprasius of Agen.

The cathedral was built on the remains of an older church. That church had been attacked and damaged by the Normans in 853. It was later rebuilt. However, it was damaged again in December 1561 during the Wars of Religion.

During the French Revolution in 1789, the church stopped being used for religious services. It was used as a place to store animal feed. But it reopened in 1796. In 1801, it became the main church, or cathedral, for the area. It replaced the old cathedral, which had been destroyed during the Revolution.

An interesting fact is that the cathedral appears in one of the very first color photographs ever taken. This photo was taken by Louis Arthur Ducos du Hauron in 1877. In 1998, this monument became one of the first 75 sites to be named a World Heritage Site.

Organs

The main organ in the cathedral is very special. It was built by a company called Stoltz. This organ was shown at a big exhibition in Paris in 1855. Legend says that Empress Eugénie gave it to the Agen Cathedral in 1858. Before that, the cathedral did not have an organ.

This is the largest organ in the Lot-et-Garonne area. It has 45 different sounds, called registers. These sounds can be played using three keyboards for the hands, called manuals. It also has a keyboard for the feet, called a pedal-board. This main organ is a nationally listed historical monument.

The cathedral also has a smaller organ in the choir area. It was built in 1885 by Magen. This choir organ has 15 registers, two manuals, and a pedal-board. It is also a historical monument.

Architecture

Like many churches in southern France, Agen Cathedral is shaped like a Latin cross. The main part of the church, called the nave, was built in the 13th century.

The church has some interesting architectural features. The rounded end of the church, called the Romanesque apse, is very old. It connects to a Gothic-style main hall, or nave. The current bell tower was built in 1835. It replaced an older wooden one. This tower is unique because it combines three different Gothic styles. They are oddly arranged in reverse order as you look up.

The walls and ceilings inside the cathedral are covered with paintings. These paintings show the history of Christianity coming to the region. A main painting shows the first martyrs of Agen. Other paintings show important figures like the Evangelists, the Apostles, and the patriarchs like Abraham and Noah. There are also paintings of the great kings of Israel.

The cathedral's nave is shorter than you might expect. This is because of money problems and political issues in the past.

Gallery

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  Ceiling of the crossing of the transept

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  Chancel and north transept

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  Interior

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  Main organ

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  A decorative support, called a cul-de-lampe, in the north transept

Images for kids

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  Interior of nave and chancel

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  The Choir

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de San Caprasio (Agen) para niños