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Saint-Etienne Cathedral in Cahors
These two emblematic monuments of Cahors are classified as a UNESCO world heritage site, under the Routes of Santiago de Compostela: the famous Valentré bridge, built in the XNUMXth century and, of course, the St. Stephen's Cathedral, overlooking from its bell tower and its domes, the tiled roofs typical of the historic center. It is the Via Podensis, part of Puy-en-Velay, which crosses this part of the Lot and brings pilgrims to the foot of the Valentré Bridge. They then leave from there towards Montcuq, Moissac and Santiago de Compostela.
Did you know?
Saint-Etienne Cathedral has an “original” appearance: the mixture of various influences – Gothic and Romanesque in particular – but also thanks to its two domes: one painted, the other virgin. At 32 meters high, they are the largest of the medieval period, after those of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
In the XNUMXth century, architects removed the exterior roof which protected the domes and highlighted them by revealing their “slate blue” roofs, which stood out from the landscape.
1119-2019: the cathedral celebrates its 900th anniversary
From the top of its bell tower and its two domes, the cathedral of Cahors has been watching over its inhabitants for several centuries. The official date of its construction is the year 1119, when Pope Calixtus II consecrated its altar. This emblem of the history of Cahors therefore celebrated its 900th anniversary in 2019...
A cathedral and its treasure: the Holy Headdress of Christ
Like the sanctuaries of Argenteuil, Turin and Oviedo, the cathedral of Cahors houses an object of inestimable value: the Holy Headdress of Christ.
Legend and history mix: some attribute his arrival to Charlemagne who would have received the Holy Headdress of the daughter of a Moorish sultan, who nourished the dream of linking her empire to his. Others say that it was brought from the Holy Land in the XNUMXth century by the Bishop of Cahors, Géraud de Cardaillac, in order to prevent it from being desecrated by the Infidels at the gates of Jerusalem.
Whether we believe one version or another, only one thing is certain: in the same way as the Holy Shroud of Turin, the Holy Headdress is theone of the five relics of Christ at the time of his burial.
This headdress has the shape of a fabric cap, the function of which was to cover the head of the deceased from the forehead to the nape of the neck, extending over the temples and attaching under the chin. Famous for its supposed miraculous nature, it was reputed to cure eye diseases, on which it had been applied.
Stolen, then found, threatened again and hidden, she came out again in plain sight on the occasion of the 900 years of the cathedral. It is now magnificently installed in its chapel, located behind the choir of the Saint-Etienne Cathedral Cahors.
A long-term story
Witness to the prosperity of the city over the centuries, the cathedral is builtRomanesque era at the dawn of the XNUMXth century.
The northern eardrum
Tympanum typical of the Romanesque period, it was built between 1140 and 1160. The portal then constituted the main entrance to the cathedral. In 1732, the north portal was walled up for the construction of the interior gallery of the cathedral, until 1840, when it was discovered again and with it, the sculpted tympanum, then restored at the beginning of the XNUMXth century.
The tympanum presents Christ in majesty in his mandorla. It is an Ascension of Christ, while the martyrdom of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is evoked all around. Under Christ, there are 1 apostles (Judas has disappeared), around the Virgin Mary. We are in the lineage of Saint-Sernin of Toulouse, Beaulieu or Moissac, that is to say under the influence of the Abbey of Cluny.
The western massif
It is Gothic in style and its construction began in the XNUMXth century. The bishop, aware of his glory, wanted to show it by erecting this new western massif. It's his way of showing his power to the city's consuls, who are emancipating themselves a little too much for his liking. By choosing the Gothic style, he also took a positive political action towards the King of France, for whom it was his preferred style.
A painted decoration was added in the XNUMXth century, in the two domes and the western massif. That of the massif will appear again on the occasion of the restoration of the organ case in the middle of the XNUMXth century, under a crumbling coating: a frieze of Genesis then appears. One of the two domes still has these painted decorations, those of the second dome being too damaged to be restored. The painting of the western dome evokes the stoning of Saint-Etienne.
The stained glass windows
In the XNUMXst century, thanks to innovative techniques of superimposing screen-printed glass, film images, photos and old paintings, a new page in the art of stained glass is being woven in the bays of the nave.
In 2000, the city of Cahors is launching a call for projects to create the new stained glass windows for Saint-Etienne Cathedral. It is the project of the artist Gérard Colin-Thiébaut, workshop of Franche, associated with the master glassmaker Pierre-Alain Parot, which is chosen. With this iconographic superposition, he wanted to evoke in an original way the accumulation of our perceptions of history and faith over the centuries. This is why he superimposed images from different eras. Everyone will interpret the stained glass window, according to their own knowledge, their emotions and their ability to read the different layers of images.
The cloister
The 1488th century, for its part, enriched it with its cloister, a haven of peace open to the visitor's contemplation. If it is today an essential part of the visit to the cathedral, it took a long, very long time to implement, from 90-1553 to... never, since the work was stopped in XNUMX: the sculpted keys, the statues, tracery and the planned floor. But it retains its charm, witnessing the transition to the flamboyant Gothic style that it embodies, but with some details introducing the very young Renaissance.
The cloister garden
One of the 21 Secret Gardens of the city - labeled “Remarkable Garden” - is located in its center and completes the impression of a suspended moment that the cloister provides in all seasons. It is also called the “Heavenly Courtyard” and it refers to the Virgin Mary by the colors used, blue with lavender and white with lilies. The whole is structured by a multitude of boxwoods, which are the subject of all the attention of the city's gardeners. As part of the event Cahors Juin Jardins, contemporary artists occasionally give interpretations of its Marian and religious dimension.
Discover the secrets of the Cathedral:
Personalized guided tours are organized all year round by the guide-lecturers of thethe Tourist Office Cahors- Lot Valley. These guided tours will take you into every nook and cranny of the cathedral, revealing all the history and stories of this constantly evolving cathedral, its moments of glory and its moments of oblivion. You will take the opportunity to visit the medieval town of Cahors, which also has plenty of resources and historical riches to feed your curiosity.
An accessible cathedral:
It is important to share the most beautiful monuments and to give themaccess to all. This is why arrangements have been made to allow anyone with reduced mobility to visit the interior of the cathedral. Access is via the north gate: instructions on site specify the very simple instructions. You can access it independently, during the opening hours of the cathedral.
