Saint Peter's Cathedral

Get ready to be amazed — Saint Peter’s Cathedral is one of Montpellier’s most iconic landmarks, towering over the narrow streets of the Écusson district with a bold, fortress-like presence unlike most cathedrals in France. Its history is just as impressive. In 1364, Pope Urban V, a former student in Montpellier, ordered the construction of an abbey church and monastery-college. As the city grew in power and influence, the archbishopric of Maguelone took notice, and in 1536, the episcopal seat was officially moved to Montpellier. The monastery became a bishop’s palace, and the church was elevated to cathedral status — right in time for the city’s growing Protestant movement. What followed were years of tension and violence during the Wars of Religion. Protestant assemblies tried to drive out Catholic authorities, who held firm and fortified the cathedral. It was equipped with defensive towers, a parapet walk, a massive porch, and even battlements — earning it the nickname “Fort Saint-Pierre.” Despite its military-style defenses, the cathedral was heavily damaged and looted in 1561 and 1567. Look closely and you’ll still see bullet marks on the left bell tower. After the royal siege of 1622, Montpellier was declared Catholic once more, and while King Louis XIII had the cathedral restored, it suffered further damage during the French Revolution. It wasn’t until the 19th century that serious restorations gave it a more unified appearance, including a glazed tile roof and new chapels. Today, it’s the largest church in the former Languedoc-Roussillon region and has been listed as a historical monument since 1906. Impressive from the outside, it’s just as stunning inside — step in to see the grand organ from 1776 with its 5,000 pipes, only 140 of which are visible, and don’t miss Sébastien Bourdon’s masterpiece, “The Fall of Simon the Magician,” a dramatic scene from the life of Saint Peter brought vividly to life.