The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis — Attraction in St. Louis

My friends and I were in St Louis last month, and the top item on our list was the Cathedral Basilica. NOTE: This is NOT the old Cathedral at the downtown Gateway Arch. The Cathedral Basilica was constructed later and is located on Lindell Blvd in the Central West End.

From the moment we walked in, we were entranced by the awe-inspiring mosaics, lovely statuary, and incredible artwork. The mosaic museum in the basement is well worth walking through, especially the exhibit comparing Byzantine and Italianate mosaics. It’s best to start one’s visit at the front of the Cathedral, in the narthex, to pick up brochures and other materials that describe the artwork, mosaics and statuary.

The Cathedral Basilica has its own parking lot, which is a real benefit in a city with limited street parking. Please know that you cannot visit when Mass is being celebrated, so it is beneficial to research the schedule of services. It is a working cathedral, with services held daily and often multiple times a day. We encountered a very nice security guard, and a kind and welcoming priest.

We liked the fact that there was no donation box, but we do suggest having some dollar bills as donations are requested when lighting the votive candles.

We recommend allowing at least 30 – 45 minutes for a visit. We found our time at the Cathedral Basilica to be very peaceful, and consider it a must-see for any visitor to St Louis, whether or not they...

Inside a Jewel

Its Monday morning, with a grayish overcast, full of shapeless, dense clouds. It beckons me to escape my cracker box dwelling to explore a church. Not just any church but the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. With a Romanesque exterior, your senses will delight in the Byzantine interior. Upon entering, pause in the vestibule to view the mosaics that portray the life of Saint Louis IX, King of France. This is just a sample of the intense beauty and architectural design that takes place in the historic Bay and Dome, the Central and Sanctuary Dome, each with a different story told of the creation to the last judgement. Images of Jesus’ baptism and Ascension to heaven are told in the West Transept whereas Christ’s resurrection and His appearance to Mary and His disciples can be viewed in the East Transept. After attending Mass (no tours are allowed during this time) I was lucky enough to attend a 1:00 tour to learn the history of the Basilica. Details such as 83,000 square feet of mosaics were created by 20 different artists that began in 1912 and was completed in 1988 by the Ravenna Mosaic Co. There is a mosaics museum you can tour for a 2.00 donation that provides more information and detail about this audacious task. Overall: This free and stunning landmark is one...

Absolutely gorgeous, a must visit in St. Louis. Parking to visit the Basilica is plentiful along the street. And then when you approach from the outside you marvel at the presence of something so powerful and beautiful outside of Europe. Then as you open the massive and intricately carved entrance doors you are confronted by cacophony of color from the Byzantine style mosaic awash a sea of gold that can only be described as awe inspiring. The sheer scale and quality of the tile work could take a full day to appreciate. The high altar at the front of the army of pews gives you a sense of a building within a building, and is a prize for the eyes in itself. And then you turn and see the full Stained glass window blazing with color and understand you are in a special place no matter your religion. In the basement there is a small museum describing the creation of these mosaics along with other pieces of the basilica’s history. The silence pervading this place is not proscriptive, but natural feeling. A perfect place for reflection and...