Saint-Michel Cathedral

The cathedral of Saint-Michel

In the Bastide Saint-Louis, the Carcassonne audio-guided tour leads you to the cathedral of Saint-Michel, mother church of the diocese. A place of worship still in use, it invites contemplation and is discovered with respect for the silence befitting such a building.

From church to cathedral

Construction of the church of Saint-Michel began in 1247, by order of King Saint Louis who had just retaken the town from the counts of Carcassonne. It was quickly enlarged to accommodate the growing congregation of the lower town. In 1355, the Black Prince, son of the king of England, led a campaign in the south-west and burned the bastide; the church was among the few buildings spared. It gained cathedral status in 1803, succeeding the basilica of Saint-Nazaire.

What there is to see

In the Languedoc Gothic style and dating from the 13th century, the cathedral was restored by Viollet-le-Duc after the fire of 1849. Its wide nave, its chapels and its decoration bear witness to this southern style, in the sobriety of a consecrated place. One enters as in any active place of worship, with discretion and respect.

Practical information

The cathedral of Saint-Michel is in the Bastide Saint-Louis, along the boulevards. It can usually be visited freely outside services; the hours may vary with the season and celebrations. An active place of worship, it requires proper dress and quiet behaviour.

Since when has Saint-Michel been a cathedral ?

The church of Saint-Michel became a cathedral in 1803, succeeding the basilica of Saint-Nazaire in the Medieval City.

Who restored the cathedral ?

It was restored by Viollet-le-Duc after the fire of 1849 that had damaged it.