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 is a beautiful and historic church in the town of Bayonne, France. Its full name is the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Bayonne. It's a Roman Catholic church and is very important for the local area.
A cathedral is the main church for a bishop, who is a leader in the Christian church. This cathedral is famous for its amazing Gothic architecture style.
Contents
History of Bayonne Cathedral
Building the Cathedral
Before this cathedral, there was an older church on the same spot. That church was built in a style called Romanesque architecture. Sadly, it was damaged by two big fires. These fires happened in 1258 and again in 1310.
After the fires, people started building the new cathedral. Construction began in the 13th century. Most of the church was finished by the early 17th century. However, the two tall spires on top were not completed until the 19th century.
Restoring the Cathedral
Over the years, the cathedral has been repaired and updated many times. A famous architect named Émile Boeswildwald worked on it in the 19th century. He was a student of another well-known architect, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
Special Features
Saint Leo's Relics
The Bayonne Cathedral holds special items called relics. These are believed to be from Saint Leo of Bayonne. He was a bishop in the 9th century. People believe he helped spread Christianity in the Basque Country.
World Heritage Site
The cathedral is also part of something very special. It stands on the Way of St. James, which is a famous pilgrimage route. Pilgrims are people who travel for religious reasons. This route leads to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Because of its importance to this historic route, the Bayonne Cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. This means it's recognized as a very important place for everyone in the world.
External links
- Location of this building
- Website of the cloister
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Bayona para niños
