Saint-Just-Et-Saint-Pasteur cathedral in Narbonne

History and construction

The construction of the cathedral began on April 13, 1272, when Archbishop Maurin laid the first stone. This ambitious project was decided in 1268 by Pope Clément IV, a former archbishop of Narbonne, in order to create a work comparable to the magnificent cathedrals of the Kingdom of France. The choir was completed in 1332, but the construction gradually stopped in the middle of the 14th century, leaving the building unfinished. Several finalization attempts took place over the following centuries, notably in 1514, 1708 and 1840, but none was completed.

Architecture and characteristics

The Saint-Just-Et-Saint-Pasteur cathedral is distinguished by:

• Its radiant Gothic style: directly inspired by large cathedrals in the north of France.
• Its unique choir: with an imposing dimensions 40 m wide, 60 m long, for a central vessel 15.20 m wide.
• Its vaults: rising 41 meters high, making it the fourth highest cathedral in France.
• Its buttons: on two floors and double-volley, of great finesse.

Remarkable elements

• The Notre-Dame de Bethlehem axial chapel: presenting a 14th century altarpiece in polychrome stone.
• The treasure room: also called a acoustic room, which houses a rich collection of liturgical objects, ivories, goldsmiths and tapestries.
• The cloister and the bell tower of the Church of Théodard: vestiges of a Carolingian pre -Roman cathedral built in 890.

Practical information

The cathedral is open every day of the year, with variable hours depending on the season. Entrance is free and guided tours are available on request for individuals and groups.

Why was Narbonne's cathedral never completely finished?

Narbonne Saint-Just-Saint-Pasteur Cathedral has never been completely completed for several complex and interconnected reasons:

• The opposition of the city consuls: the consuls categorically refused the destruction of part of the city's ramparts, necessary to continue the construction.
• The lack of resources: the high cost of the extraction and transport of stone in the South has contributed to stopping work.
• Difficult historical context: the Hundred Years War, the expedition of the Black Prince in 1355, and the black plague from 1348 to 1355, particularly virulent in Narbonne, disturbed the construction.

A long legal conflict opposed the chapter of the cathedral to the consuls of the city, starting in 1345 and extending for 8 years. A compromise was finally found in 1361, allowing the construction of the cloister leaning against the fortifications, but at the cost of the incompleteness of the cathedral.

How was Narbonne cathedral used politically in the 13th century?

Narbonne Saint-Just-Saint-Pasteur Cathedral was used as a powerful political instrument in the 13th century, reflecting power issues of the time:

• A symbol of Catholic authority: the construction of the cathedral, decided in 1268 by Pope Clément IV, aimed to assert the control of the Catholic Church in a recently reconquered region on Cathar heresy.
• An affirmation of the French royal power: the cathedral also symbolized Narbonne's submission to the kingdom of France, and its Gothic style, inspired by cathedrals of the North like Amiens, Metz or Beauvais, was a visual reminder of French influence in the region.
• A tool for political legitimacy: the iconographic program of the axial chapel, carried out around 1312, staged the Archbishop Gilles Aycelin de Montaigu alongside the King of France Philippe IV, highlighting the alliance between the local ecclesiastical power and the French monarchy.
• An ambitious project in the face of local tensions: the construction of the cathedral collided with the opposition of the consuls of the city, creating a legal conflict which lasted eight years (1345-1354), reflecting the tensions between the ecclesiastical power and the municipal authorities for the control of urban space.