Site officiel de la ville et de la Communauté d'Agglomération du Carcassonnais
Tour
Open daily.
History
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King Louis IX, who authorised the people living in the suburbs outside the town walls to settle on the other bank of the River Aude in 1247, ordered them to build two churches on each side of the new town (the "bastide"). They were to be dedicated to St. Michael and St. Vincent.
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St. Michael's has a wide nave and a chevet consisting of a large apse and apsidal chapels. After the invasion by the Black Prince and the destruction of the town in 1355, town walls were built, backing onto the south side of the church. The church originally had raftering but this was replaced by vaulting during the 18th century. The church became a cathedral in 1803. It was ravaged by fire in 1849, after which Viollet-le-Duc launched major restoration work that lasted for almost 20 years.
High altar
The church has retained its 18th-century altar of multicoloured marble topped by two angels in adoration and a white marble tetramorph forming the base of the tabernacle.
The altar was produced between 1736 and 1746 by Jean-Baptiste Peru from Avignon (1703-1790). The Caunes marble balustrade also dates from the 18th century. It was brought here from the hospital.
Claude MARQUIE – Le patrimoine des communes de la Méridienne verte – Edition Flohic - 2000
Site Officiel de l'Office de Tourisme et de la ville de Carcassonne - www.carcassonne.org
Site Officiel de l'Office de Tourisme et de la ville de Carcassonne - www.carcassonne.org