Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral

The cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption

The Montauban audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation before the cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption. Atypical with its white robe in a landscape of red brick, it is the highest point of the old centre.

A cathedral willed by Louis XIV

It was in 1685, at the end of the Wars of Religion, that King Louis XIV planned the construction of this imposing building, intended to affirm his authority and that of Catholicism. After a fundraising and the purchase of several blocks, the first stone was laid in 1692, and the building, eighty-seven metres long, was only completed more than a century later. Its two towers once bore small bell-towers, demolished in 1831; the statues aligned above the entrance symbolise the four evangelists watching over the city.

What there is to see

Inside, in contemplation, the visitor discovers a vast space of classical style, with strict and elegant vertical lines. Its central portal, the highest in Europe, even exceeds that of St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Its white stone, which contrasts with the brick of Montauban, makes it a landmark visible from all over the city. It is a place of faith and a major monument, to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption stands in the heart of the old centre of Montauban. A place of worship, it can generally be visited during the day, with respect for silence and services, the hours possibly varying according to the season. Access is on the level.

When was the cathedral of Montauban built?

Its construction was planned by Louis XIV in 1685; the first stone was laid in 1692 and the building completed more than a century later.

What is remarkable about the cathedral of Montauban?

Its white stone in a city of brick, and its central portal, the highest in Europe, which exceeds that of St Peter's Basilica in Rome.