Old Cathedral of Lleida facts for kids
The Cathedral of St. Mary of la Seu Vella (which means St. Mary of the Old Seat) is a very old church in Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. It sits on top of a hill in the city. For a long time, it was the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lleida.
In 1707, King Philip V of Spain decided to turn this beautiful Gothic church into a military fort. A new cathedral, called the Seu Nova (New See), was built downhill and opened in 1781. Even so, the Seu Vella remains the most famous building in Lleida and a true symbol of the city. You can see it from almost anywhere!
Contents
History of the Old Cathedral
Early Buildings on the Hill
The spot where the cathedral stands has been important for a very long time. Before the current church, there was an even older Christian church there. After the Islamic conquest of Spain, this building was changed into a mosque in 832.
In 1149, Christian armies led by Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona and Ermengol VI of Urgell took over the city. The mosque was then changed back into a church and named "Santa Maria Antiqua." It was looked after by a group of priests.
Building the New Cathedral
In 1193, the church leaders decided to build a brand new cathedral. They wanted it to follow the popular Romanesque style of the time. A master builder named Pere de Coma was in charge.
The first stone was laid in 1203 by King Peter II of Aragon and Count Ermengol VII of Urgell. Construction continued while James I of Aragon was king. The church was officially dedicated to the Virgin Mary on October 31, 1278. The cloisters, which are covered walkways, were finished later in the 14th century. The tall bell tower was started in the 14th century and completed in 1431. The main entrance, called the Porta dels Apòstols, was also built between the 14th and 15th centuries.
From Church to Barracks
In 1707, the city of Lleida was captured by the troops of Philip V of Spain. The king ordered the cathedral to be destroyed because it had been used to defend the city. Luckily, the order was never carried out. Instead, the cathedral was turned into army barracks, a place for soldiers to live.
The building was recognized as an important national monument in 1918. Restoration work to bring it back to its former glory began in 1950.
What the Cathedral Looks Like
Architectural Style
The cathedral has a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. This means it was built during a time when architecture was changing. It doesn't show much influence from Islamic architecture.
The church floor plan is shaped like a Latin cross. It has a main central area called a nave and two side sections called aisles. The main tower is octagonal, meaning it has eight sides. The inside of the church was once covered in painted murals and sculptures. Many of these are still there, but some were damaged during the War of Spanish Succession.
The Bell Tower
The octagonal bell tower is very impressive. It is about 12.65 meters wide at the bottom and 9.62 meters wide at the top. The tower reaches a height of 60 meters and has 238 steps inside.
It has two famous bells. One bell, named Mònica, rings every 15 minutes. The other, named Silvestra, rings every hour. Both bells are from the 15th century and show the international Gothic style.
The Cloister
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The cloister of the Seu Vella is quite special. It's usually found at the side of a church, but here it's placed in front of the main entrance. It's known for its open gallery, which offers amazing views of the city. It's also incredibly large, considered one of the biggest cloisters in Europe.
This cloister has 17 beautiful Gothic windows, and each one is unique. One interesting window is called "the palmtrees," which has a Muslim design. Another window in the western part of the cloister has a complex design that includes both a King David's Star and a Christian cross.
Sources
- Official website of the Turó de la Seu Vella: http://www.turoseuvella.cat/el-conjunto-monumental/seu-vella
