In 1685, Louis XIV decided to build a gigantic cathedral to assert his power and mark the victory of the Catholic religion.
Built at the highest point of the city in the aftermath of the Wars of Religion and bearing the arms of the King of France on its pediment, the cathedral symbolizes the all-powerful Catholic monarchy over the formerly rebellious Protestant city.
Consecrated in 1739, it is the work of three successive royal architects: François d'Orbay, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and Robert de Cotte. The four statues of the Evangelists on the façade are copies of works by the sculptor Marc Arcis. Having deteriorated badly, the original works were removed to the cathedral's interior.
The interior contrasts sharply with the aesthetics of the Saint-Jacques church: the tall windows, adorned with white glass, flood the nave with light, further accentuated by the light-colored whitewash on the walls. The cathedral houses remarkable furnishings, including a walnut organ (17th century), an 18th century pulpit, and a Napoleon III canopy (19th century). In the north arm of the transept, one of Ingres's major works, The Vow of Louis XIII (1824), is enthroned.
In 2010, a treasure trove was created by the State in the great sacristy, open during guided tours organized by the CIAP.
Consecrated in 1739, it is the work of three successive royal architects: François d'Orbay, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and Robert de Cotte. The four statues of the Evangelists on the façade are copies of works by the sculptor Marc Arcis. Having deteriorated badly, the original works were removed to the cathedral's interior.
The interior contrasts sharply with the aesthetics of the Saint-Jacques church: the tall windows, adorned with white glass, flood the nave with light, further accentuated by the light-colored whitewash on the walls. The cathedral houses remarkable furnishings, including a walnut organ (17th century), an 18th century pulpit, and a Napoleon III canopy (19th century). In the north arm of the transept, one of Ingres's major works, The Vow of Louis XIII (1824), is enthroned.
In 2010, a treasure trove was created by the State in the great sacristy, open during guided tours organized by the CIAP.
