Saint Front Cathedral Saint Front Cathedral Saint Front Cathedral Saint Front Cathedral Saint Front Cathedral Saint Front Cathedral Saint Front Cathedral

Saint Front Cathedral

Bizantine architecture in Périgueux

Saint Front Cathedral, Périgueux

Saint Front CathedralPérigueux Cathedral, seat of the Diocese of Périgueux and Sarlat, is a Roman Catholic cathedral. Located in downtown Périgueux, it has been a listed historic monument since 1840 and a World Heritage site since 1998.

According to legend, it was named after the first bishop of Périgueux: Saint Front.
Dating from the 12th century, it has undergone numerous modifications to achieve its current Romanesque-Byzantine architecture. It is made up of two churches built at different times, which are now connected by a Byzantine-style bell tower over 60 meters high. The Latin church, destroyed by fire in 1120, remains roofless. The Romanesque-Byzantine church, with its Greek cross plan and five domes, gives it an oriental feel.

Its steeple rises to 62 meters. It is the oldest bell tower in France and the only Byzantine-style one in the world.

In the basement, there are crypts, one of which is called Saint Front's grotto, where the Saint is said to have lived as a hermit.
In the eastern part of the cathedral is a monastery with a cloister whose vaults and arcades were transformed into Gothic style in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Saint Front Cathedral is now state-owned and open to the public.

Equipment

 

Address:

saint front, perigueux

Sector

White Périgord

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