Cahors Cathedral Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cahors Cathedral Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Cahors
Cahors Cathedral
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Church
Province	Diocese of Cahors
Region	Occitanie
Rite	Roman
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Cathedral
Year consecrated	1135
Status	Active
Location
Location	Cahors, France
Architecture
Architectural type	church
Architectural style	Gothic, Romanesque
Groundbreaking	1080
Completed	1135

Plan of the cathedral complex.

The Cahors Cathedral (called Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Cahors in French) is a famous Roman Catholic church in Cahors, France. It's a special national monument because it shows how building styles changed. You can see both the older Romanesque and the newer Gothic looks in its design.

A Fortified Church
- The Cathedral's Front (Façade)
Inside the Cathedral
- Unique Domes
- Ancient Art and Paintings
The Apse and Holy Relics
- The Holy Cap
The Cloister and Chapel
- St. Gaubert Chapel
Gallery
See also

A Fortified Church

This church was first built in the 11th century by Bishop Gerard de Cardaillac. It was built on top of an even older church from the 7th century! The cathedral was officially opened by Pope Calixtus II in 1119 and finished around 1135.

The cathedral looks very strong, almost like a castle. This is because the local bishops back then were also powerful lords. They needed their church to be a safe place.

The Cathedral's Front (Façade)

The front of the church was updated between 1316 and 1324. It still looks like a heavy castle wall. It has a porch, which is like an entrance area, with a bell tower above it. This tower is protected by two other towers on each side.

The windows on the front are quite narrow. The main church features are a beautiful entrance portal with fancy carvings. Above this, there's a gallery of small arches and a large, round rose window.

On the northern side of the cathedral, there's another entrance. It's also built in the strong Romanesque style, looking like it could be part of a fortress.

Inside the Cathedral

The main part of the church, called the nave, is very wide and bright. It measures about 44 meters long and 20 meters wide.

Unique Domes

Instead of a traditional roof, the nave has two huge domes. These domes are 32 meters high and are built in a style similar to those found in Byzantine buildings. They rest on special supports called pendentives.

What's really unusual is that the cathedral doesn't have a transept. This is the part of a cross-shaped church that usually sticks out on the sides.

Ancient Art and Paintings

One of the domes is decorated with amazing paintings from the 14th century. These frescoes show scenes like the stoning of St. Stephen. They also show eight prophets riding different animals, which is a very unique style.

The walls of the cathedral are also covered with many other old medieval paintings. These artworks tell stories and add lots of color to the inside of the church.

The Apse and Holy Relics

The back part of the church, called the apse, mixes styles. Its base is Romanesque, with old columns and decorated tops. But the upper part is Gothic, with three chapels.

The apse has beautiful sculptures and creates a lovely contrast. The white walls of the apse stand out against the colorful stained glass windows and the paintings in the choir area.

The Holy Cap

Inside the apse, you can find several tombs. One very special item is the Holy Cap. People believe this cap was worn by Jesus Christ. It was brought to France by Bishop Gerard de Cardillac in 1113 after he traveled to the Holy Land.

The Cloister and Chapel

To the right of the choir, there's a door that leads to the cloister. A cloister is a covered walkway, usually around a courtyard, often found in monasteries or cathedrals. This one was built in 1504 and is in the fancy Flamboyant Gothic style.

The cloister has carvings that show scenes from everyday life. You can also see a sculpture of the Madonna there.

St. Gaubert Chapel

On the western side of the cloister is the St. Gaubert Chapel. The ceiling of this chapel is decorated with beautiful Italian Renaissance paintings. On the walls, there are frescoes from the 15th century that show the Last Judgement. Today, this chapel is a museum of Religious Art.