Bayonne Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bayonne CathedralCathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayonne |
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Bayonne Cathedral
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Bishop of Bayonne |
| Region | Pyrénées-Atlantiques |
| Rite | Roman |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Bayonne, France |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | church |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 13th century |
| Completed | 19th century |
The Bayonne Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Bayonne, is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located in Bayonne, France. It is the main church for the Bishop of Bayonne, who leads the local church area. This impressive building is famous for its Gothic architecture style.
About Bayonne Cathedral
The Bayonne Cathedral is a very old and important building. It serves as a place of worship and a historical landmark. Its official names in French are Cathédrale Sainte-Marie de Bayonne or Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayonne. In the Basque language, it is called Santa Maria katedrala or Andre Maria katedrala.
Its History
Before the current cathedral, there was an older Romanesque church on the same spot. Sadly, this earlier church was destroyed by two big fires in 1258 and 1310.
Work on the cathedral you see today started in the 13th century. Most of the building was finished by the early 17th century. However, the two tall spires at the top were not completed until the 19th century. Over the years, the cathedral has been repaired and updated many times. A famous architect named Émile Boeswildwald, who learned from another well-known architect, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, did a lot of this restoration work in the 1800s.
Special Connections
The cathedral holds special items called relics of Saint Leo of Bayonne. He was a bishop in the 9th century who helped spread Christianity in the Basque Country.
Bayonne Cathedral is also a significant stop on the Pilgrimage Way of Santiago de Compostela. This is a famous route that pilgrims have walked for centuries. Because of its importance to this pilgrimage, the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. This means it is recognized as a very important place for everyone in the world to protect.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Bayona para niños
