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
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, also known as Cathédrale Saint-Caprais d'Agen in French, is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in Agen, France. It's a special kind of church called a cathedral, which is the main church for a bishop. This cathedral is named after Saint Caprasius. It was first built way back in the 1100s.

The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's a very important place that the world wants to protect. It's part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France, which are old paths pilgrims used to walk to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. In 1863, it was officially recognized as a historic monument in France.

History of Agen Cathedral

The parts of Agen Cathedral you see today were mostly built in the 12th century. It started as a collegiate church, which is a church run by a group of priests called canons. They dedicated it to Saint Caprasius of Agen.

This church was built on the remains of an older church called a basilica. That basilica was attacked and damaged by the Normans in 853. It was rebuilt, but then damaged again in December 1561 during the Wars of Religion.

During the French Revolution in 1789, the church stopped being used for religious services. For a while, it was even used to store animal food! But in 1796, it reopened. In 1801, it became the main cathedral for the Agen area. It replaced the old cathedral, which had been destroyed during the Revolution.

An interesting fact is that one of the very first color photographs ever taken, in 1877 by Louis Arthur Ducos du Hauron, shows Agen Cathedral. In 1998, this important building became one of the first 75 sites along the World Heritage pilgrim route.

Amazing Organs

Agen Cathedral has two very special musical instruments: its organs.

The Main Organ

The main organ is huge and impressive. It was built by a company called Stoltz. This organ was even shown at a big event called the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1855. Legend says that Empress Eugénie gave it to the cathedral in 1858. Before that, the cathedral didn't have an organ.

This is the largest organ in the Lot-et-Garonne area. It has 45 "registers," which are like different sets of pipes that make various sounds. These sounds can be played using three "manuals" (keyboards for your hands) and a "pedal-board" (a keyboard for your feet). This main organ is so important that it's listed as a national historical monument.

The Choir Organ

The cathedral also has a smaller "choir organ." It was built in 1885 by Magen. This organ has 15 registers and can be played with two manuals and a pedal-board. It is also a nationally listed historical monument.

Cathedral Architecture

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

Key Architectural Features

• Romanesque Apse and Gothic Nave: The back part of the church, called the Romanesque apse, is very old. It connects to a single nave that was built in the Gothic style.
• The Bell Tower: The current bell tower was built in 1835. It replaced an older wooden one. What's cool about this tower is that it shows three different Gothic styles. But they are arranged in a surprising way, going from newer styles at the bottom to older styles at the top.
• Wall and Ceiling Paintings: The walls and ceilings inside the cathedral are covered with beautiful paintings. These paintings tell the story of how Christianity came to the region. A main painting shows the first martyrs (people who died for their faith) of Agen. Other paintings show important figures like the Evangelists (who wrote the Gospels), the Apostles, the patriarchs (like Abraham and Noah), and the great kings of Israel.
• Shorter Nave: You might notice that the nave of the cathedral is shorter than you'd expect compared to the size of the chancel (the area around the altar). This happened because of money problems and political issues a long time ago.

Images for kids

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  Interior of nave and chancel

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  The Choir

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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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  Cul-de-lampe, north transept

See also

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