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Origin and history

Saint-Étienne de Cahors Cathedral, located in the Lot department in the Occitanie region, is a major religious building whose construction spanned from the 12th to the 15th century. It was built from the 12th century to house the relic of the Holy Hair, brought back from the Holy Land by Géraud de Cardaillac. Its architecture combines Romanesque elements, such as domes on pendants inspired by Byzantine art, and Gothic additions, especially in the choir and western facade. The cathedral was listed as a Historic Monument in 1862 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, as a stage on the Santiago de Compostela roads.

The history of the cathedral remains partly enigmatic, with debates between historians on the precise dates of construction. A first cathedral would have existed as early as the seventh century, destroyed and rebuilt several times, notably after the Sarrasin invasions (732) or the Carolingian conflicts. In the 12th century, under the impetus of Bishop Géraud of Cardaillac and with the support of Pope Urban II, a new cathedral was erected, the high altar of which was consecrated in 1119 by Pope Calixte II. Work continued until the 15th century, with major Gothic modifications in the 13th century, such as the elevation of the abside and the addition of lateral chapels.

The cathedral houses artistic treasures, including Gothic murals rediscovered in the 19th century, such as those of the western dome representing the stoning of St Stephen, or those of the narthex illustrating scenes of Genesis (1316-1324). The northern gate, carved around 1140, is a Roman-Gothic masterpiece representing the Ascension of Christ and the martyrdom of St Stephen. In the 15th century, the flamboyant cloister was rebuilt, and chapels such as Notre-Dame or Saint-Gausbert were added, reflecting the enrichment of the building after the Hundred Years' War.

In the 19th century, major restorations were undertaken, notably by the architects Paul Abadie and Victor Tourrette, who produced medieval paintings and remodelled the abside. The cathedral was also subject to contentious changes, such as the walling of the north gate in 1732, reopened in 1862. In the 20th and 21st centuries, restoration campaigns preserved its heritage, such as the contemporary stained glass windows of Gérard Collin-Thiébaut installed in 2013, or the restoration of the d'axe chapel for the 900th anniversary of the consecration of the high altar.

The cathedral district, formed around the building, includes canonial buildings such as the Gothic cloister (1497-1504), the chapel Saint-Gausbert, and the attic of the chapter, witnesses to the medieval ecclesiastical organization. The cathedral, both a fortress and a place of pilgrimage, illustrates the architectural and spiritual evolution of Quercy, between Byzantine influence, Gregorian reform and jacquary. Its painted decor, stained glass windows and relics, such as the Sainte Coiffe, make it an emblematic monument of French religious heritage.

Future

The Saint-Étienne Cathedral is one of the 71 monuments as well as 7 portions of paths have been inscribed since 1998 on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the official title of "Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle en France".

It is on the way to Via Podiensis, or "Voy du Puy", from Puy-en-Velay to the Basque village of Ostabat, where it joins via Turonensis and via Lemovicensis gathered shortly before.

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