Pamplona Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Mary of the AssumptionCatedral de Santa María de la Asunción |
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Pamplona Cathedral
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| District | Archdiocese of Pamplona y Tudela |
| Rite | Roman |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Location | |
| Location | Pamplona, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical, Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, Renaissance |
The Pamplona Cathedral (also known as Santa María de la Asunción) is a large Roman Catholic church in Pamplona, Spain. It is the main church for the archdiocese of Pamplona. The building you see today is a Gothic church from the 15th century. It was built after an older Romanesque church collapsed.
Before that, archaeologists have found signs of two even older churches on the same spot. The front part of the cathedral, called the façade, was designed in a Neoclassical style by Ventura Rodríguez in 1783. The cathedral also has a beautiful cloister (an open walkway) from the 13th and 14th centuries. This cloister leads to two other Gothic rooms: the Barbazan chapel and the refectory (a dining hall). In the past, the kings of Navarre were crowned here, and some were also buried within its walls. The local parliament, known as the Cortes, used to meet here a long time ago.
What the Cathedral is Called
Since it was first built, the cathedral has been dedicated to Santa María de la Asunción, which means Saint Mary of the Assumption. This special day is celebrated every year on August 15. Sometimes, people also call it "Santa María la Real de Pamplona." This name became popular after a special event in 1946, but its official dedication remains Saint Mary of the Assumption.
The Church Building
The place where the cathedral stands is the oldest part of the ancient Roman city of Pompaelo. In 1994, archaeological digs found old Roman streets and buildings from the 1st century BC here.
The very first cathedral on this site was destroyed in 924 during an invasion by Abd-al-Rahman III, a powerful ruler from Cordoba. During the time of King Sancho III (1004–1035), the church was rebuilt. However, that church was taken down between 1083 and 1097. A new Romanesque cathedral was then built from 1100 to 1127.
Sadly, this Romanesque church collapsed in 1391, leaving only its front wall. Building the current Gothic church began in 1394 and finished in 1501. The church has a cruciform (cross-shaped) layout with a central main area called a nave and four shorter aisles. All these areas have beautiful rib vault ceilings, some of which are painted. The design of the church was greatly influenced by French Gothic styles.
Inside the church, you can see amazing sculptures. One important piece is the tomb of Charles III of Navarre and Eleanor of Castile, created by Johan Lome in 1419. There is also a special statue called Royal Saint Mary. It's a wood-carved sculpture from the Romanesque period, covered in silver.
The choir, where singers sit, has beautiful Renaissance choir stalls from 1541. It is separated from the main nave by a Gothic iron screen made in 1517. The church also has several altarpieces (decorated screens behind the altar). These include Gothic altarpieces from around 1500, an Italian Renaissance one from the 16th century, and several Baroque altarpieces from the 17th century.
The Cloister
Perhaps the most impressive part of the cathedral is its cloister, built in the 13th century. Like the church itself, the cloister follows the French Gothic architecture style and has very detailed sculptures.
The door leading from the church to the cloister shows a scene of the Virgin Mary. A 15th-century sculpture of the Virgin Mary stands in the middle of the doorway. The Barbazan chapel, named after Bishop Arnaldo de Barbazán who is buried there, has a Gothic vault with eight ribs.
Another special door, called the 'Precious Door', leads to the old canons' dormitory. It features many sculptures telling the story of the Virgin Mary's life. You can also find several important burials here, including Bishop Miguel Sánchez de Asiáin (14th century) and the famous guerrilla fighter Francisco Espoz y Mina (19th century).
The lavatory (a washing area) in the cloister is closed off by an iron gate. People say the iron for this gate came from the famous battle of Navas de Tolosa. Another decorated Gothic door leads to the old kitchen and the refectory.
Diocesan Museum
The old rooms where the canons (church officials) used to live now house the Diocesan Museum. The main room of the museum is the refectory, a large dining hall from the 14th century with a rib-vaulted ceiling. The kitchen next to it has a unique pyramid-shaped stone chimney.
This museum displays many religious art pieces from the cathedral and other churches in Navarre, some of which are no longer used. You can see sculptures from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. There are also Gothic and Baroque paintings, and beautiful goldsmith and silversmith items from the 13th to the 18th centuries.
Some of the most amazing silver pieces include a Gothic Holy Sepulcher reliquary (a container for holy relics) made in 13th-century Paris. There's also a 14th-century Lignum Crucis reliquary and a stunning 16th-century Renaissance processional monstrance (a vessel used to display the consecrated host).
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Pamplona (España) para niños
