Pamiers Cathedral (

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

: ''Cathédrale Saint-Antonin de Pamiers'') is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

church located in the town of Pamiers,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

. The

cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the ''cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominatio ...

is a national monument. It is the ecclesiastical seat of the

Bishopric of Pamiers The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pamiers, Couserans, and Mirepoix ( Latin: ''Dioecesis Apamiensis, Couseranensis, et Mirapicensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Pamiers, Mirepoix, et Couserans'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Chur ...

, which was established in 1275, abolished by the

Concordat of 1801 The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801 in Paris. It remained in effect until 1905, except in Alsace-Lorraine, where it remains in force. It sought national reconciliation b ...

, and re-established in 1822. It is in the Southern French Gothic architectural tradition, and is dedicated to Antoninus of Pamiers.

Architecture

The building is made of Toulouse brick, a common material in the region. Of the original church, dating back to the 12th century, only part of the portal survives. The Wars of Religion during the 16th century caused great damage in the city, leaving only the bell tower, which could be used as a watchtower. The

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-typ ...

renovation was not completed until 1689. Most of the reconstruction work was done by François Mansart. Others also attribute it to his nephew, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, who was known to work under the guidance of his uncle. The cathedral has a single nave, the

chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common typ ...

s being inserted between the buttresses.

External links

Location

Picture of Pamiers Cathedral
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Sources

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Pamiers Cathedral
at
The Planet's Cathedrals
' Churches in Ariège (department) Roman Catholic cathedrals in France Brick Gothic Gothic architecture in France {{France-RC-cathedral-stub