History of the Marble Cathedral

Saint-Pons was originally a powerful abbey founded in 936 and then the site was promoted to the dignity of cathedral and parish in 1318. The Cathedral has been classified as a Historical Monument since 1840. It is the most important building in the city, of great architectural value and a witness to our history.

A bit of history

The abbey of Saint Pons was founded on the left bank of the Jaur in 936 by Raymond III, count of Toulouse, and his wife Garsinde in honor of the Martyr Pons de Cimiez.

In 937, the abbey is under the protection of the pope. Then in 939, under the protection of Louis IV, king of France.

The arrival of several eminent abbots enriched it, notably thanks to those from Catalonia and Aragon (Ramire II was a monk there before being chosen as king of Aragon in 1134).

The abbey was elevated to a diocese by a bull of Pope John XXII on February 18 1317, thus becoming a cathedral.

At the peak of its glory in 1318, the Benedictine monks of the abbey numbered 50, but after the Protestant invasion, they were reduced to 9.

At the end of the 15th century, works to replace the Roman choir with a Gothic choir, equipped with a walkway and a luminous chapel began, but were never completed because the Huguenots destroyed the cloister and the cathedral in 1567.

In 1610, the monks pleaded for the transformation of the abbey into a college of regular canons citing the ruin of the buildings since the looting of the religious wars, conventual buildings, dormitory, and cloister were razed forcing the religious to sleep in town, contrary to the respect of the rule.

Partially ruined for over 150 years due to the religious wars, the integrity of the church was only restored in the 18th century, it was in 1711 that the current neoclassical facade was erected at the location of the demolished choir. One of its specificities was then created with the inversion of the direction of the nave.
The arrangement of the choir allows for the establishment of one of the most remarkable examples of 17th century baroque art with notably statues, gildings, multicolored ornaments, and the organ of Micot.

Concerts and visits

The Cathedral is open every day, free access.

Visit on request for groups throughout the year.

Unusual : enjoy a musical visit on request.