Cathedral of Saint-Sacerdos at Sarlat — Attraction in Sarlat-la-Canéda

A magnificent building which holds the title of co-cathedral of the Diocese of Périgueux and Sarlat. It was listed as a historical monument in 1840.

The sanctuary is dedicated to Saint Sacerdos. There are two saints named Sacerdos in France, but the cathedral's patronage refers to Sacerdos of Limoges, whose relics were received by the cathedral in the Middle Ages. The relics disappeared during the Wars of Religion.

The Diocese of Sarlat was created in 1317, along with several other Catholic dioceses in the Aquitaine region, following the victory of the French royal forces over the Albigensian Cathar armies. Pope John XXII, former Bishop of Cahors, appointed the abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Sacerdos as the new bishop of the city. Thus, the former Romanesque abbey church became the cathedral of the diocese.

Reconstruction began in 1504, and Bishop Armand de Gontaud-Biron entrusted Master Builder Pierre Esclache with the task of building a new cathedral, initially carried out under the orders of Master Mason Blaise Bernard. Work was intermittent due to lack of funds, wars, and epidemics. It was not completed until the 1680s. The vaults were built from 1682 to 1685, under the episcopate of François III de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, Fénelon's uncle and godfather, tutor to the Dauphin, and Archbishop of Cambrai. The diocese was abolished during the Concordat of 1801, and its territory was incorporated into the Diocese of Périgueux.

Although reusing certain Romanesque parts of the old abbey church, the general style of the cathedral is Gothic of Nordic inspiration (presence of two side aisles). The Romanesque bell tower dates from the 12th century and is the oldest part of the building. It succeeded a Carolingian construction and underwent changes: the top floor dates from the 17th century and the bulbous belfry from the...

Elle est située au cœur de la Cité médiévale de Sarlat. N’hésitez pas à pénétrer dans cet édifice, c'est splendide !!! Dès que vous aurez passé la porte, retournez-vous et contemplez les orgues de la cathédrale, ceux-ci sont classé parmi les plus beaux de France. L'orgue en nid d'hirondelle est l'œuvre de Jean-François L'Épine (1752). Si vous êtes là le samedi matin, vous aurez sans doute l’occasion de les écouter lors de « l’orgue du marché ». En 1504, à cet emplacement, l'évêque Armand de Gontaut-Biron fait détruire l'église Saint-Sacerdos du XIIème siècle pour y implanter une cathédrale. Celle-ci restera inachevée pendant plus d'un siècle. Les travaux furent intermittents faute d’argent, et aussi en raison des guerres et des épidémies. Ils s’achevèrent seulement dans les années 1680. L'église actuelle présente différents niveaux de construction, dont ressort principalement le gothique méridional tardif, caractérisé par une allure massive et un intérieur sobre. Le clocher roman datant du XIIème siècle est la partie la plus ancienne de l'édifice. Il a succédé à une construction carolingienne et a subi des évolutions : le dernier étage date du XVIIème siècle et le beffroi bulbeux du XVIIIème siècle. Le patronage de la cathédrale se réfère à Sacerdos de Limoges, dont la cathédrale reçut les reliques au Moyen Âge. Les reliques ont disparu lors des guerres de religion. Elle est classée monument...

Medieval building with high ceiling and beautiful stained-glass windows, what’s not to like about it... Such historical town with a nice cathedral (was once a cathedral) to boast. Constructions for this place started since the 14th century, however, it was not completed until the 17th century. This town is...