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Origin and history

The Cathedral of Saint Antonin de Pamiers, located in Ariège in Occitanie, is a religious building marked by three key periods: 12th, 14th and 19th centuries. Originally dedicated to St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist under the name of St Mary of Mercadal (1384), she was raised to the rank of cathedral in 1499. Today dedicated to Saint Antonin, it embodies the turbulent history of Pamiers, notably marked by the wars of Religion in the 16th century, which destroyed much of the building, leaving only the bell tower, used as a watchtower. Its unique nave and lateral chapels are gradually rebuilt, reflecting a mixture of Romanesque, southern Gothic and classical sober styles, perhaps due to François Mansart or his nephew Jules Hardouin-Mansart.

The portal, the only vestige of the 12th century, combines Romanesque elements (historical capitals representing biblical scenes such as the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist or Daniel in the lions' pit) and Gothics (14th century). The bell tower, inspired by that of the Jacobins of Toulouse, is an octagonal 14th century brick tower, crowned in the 19th century by an openwork gallery designed by Ferdinand De Coma to soften its mass. The interior, stripped of its original furniture during the Revolution, now houses 18th and 19th century works, such as paintings by Baduel, Lazerges or Bénézet, as well as an 18th century organ from Toulouse, restored in 1992.

Ranked a historic monument in 1906, the cathedral is managed by the DRAC and has been owned by the state since the Revolution. Its carillon, composed of 49 bells since 1995 (including a bumblebee of 1849), is one of the most remarkable in Occitanie. The choir houses the tombs of several bishops, including François de Caulet (1644–80), buried near the bentier to be " trodden by the faithful". The stained glass windows (1862), marble pavement (1857) and woodwork of the transept (1753) bear witness to the restoration and embellishment campaigns carried out in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The building, built in Toulouse brick, illustrates southern Gothic architecture, with a unique nave flanked by chapels. The side chapels, dedicated to Saint Joseph, Saint John the Baptist or the Holy Virgin, house frescoes and sculptures of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The transept, decorated with paintings by Brother André (early 18th century) and wrought iron grilles (1835), leads to the pentagonal choir, where five paintings by Bénézet (1885) trace the life of Saint Antonin. The furniture, although partially lost, includes statues (Vierge Marie, 1861) and a black marble bentier from the Pyrenees.

The bell tower, symbol of Pamiers' resistance, bears the stigma of past conflicts with its niches and murderous. The cathedral, the seat of the diocese of Pamiers, Couserans and Mirepoix, remains a place of memory and worship, where sacred art dialogue with the tormented history of the region. Its carillon, organs and interior decorations make it a living heritage, between medieval heritage and modern restorations.

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