Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the mother church of Los Angeles

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels resembles no other cathedral. The mother church of the Catholic archdiocese of Los Angeles, it deploys a resolutely contemporary architecture. The Los Angeles audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this modern and bold monument, at once a place of worship and a major architectural work of the city.

A cathedral designed by Rafael Moneo

Located at 555 West Temple Street, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is the mother church of the Los Angeles archdiocese. The work of Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, its postmodern, angular and controversial architecture deliberately breaks with traditional models. It succeeded a former cathedral and embodies the contemporary face of Catholicism in the Californian metropolis.

What to see

The building strikes by its geometric volumes, its worked light and its stripped interior, worlds away from Gothic cathedrals. Here you discover tapestries, contemporary artworks and a great organ. It is an astonishing stop for lovers of architecture, showing a radically modern approach to the place of worship, in the heart of Los Angeles.

Practical information

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels lies at 555 West Temple Street, in the Civic Center, in the centre of Los Angeles, reachable on foot and by public transport. A working Catholic place of worship, it can be visited with respect for services; entry is generally free, but hours vary with the season and celebrations. It is best to check them before coming.

Who designed the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels?

The Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, in a bold postmodern style; it is the mother church of the Catholic archdiocese of Los Angeles, at 555 West Temple Street.

What is special about the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels?

Its postmodern, angular and resolutely contemporary architecture, which breaks with traditional models and makes it a monument apart in the landscape of cathedrals.