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Origin and history

The Cathedral of Sainte-Marie de Lombez, located in Gers in Occitanie, was built in the 14th and 15th centuries after the creation of the diocese of Lombez in 1317 by Pope John XXII. It became the episcopal seat of a diocese resulting from the redistribution of the Archdiocese of Toulouse, before being attached to Bayonne and Toulouse after the concordat of 1801. Its southern Gothic architecture, inspired by the Jacobins of Toulouse, is distinguished by its two unequal naves and its 43-metre octagonal bell tower, typical of the region.

The history of Lombez dates back to a legend related to Saint Majan, bishop of Antioch who would have retired to the region in the 6th or 7th century. An oratory was erected on his grave, becoming a place of pilgrimage. In the 9th century, a Benedictine abbey was founded there, then transformed into an Augustinian abbey in the 12th century after a connection to the Toulouse chapter. The relics of Saint Majan, transferred in 892, created a lasting tension with the inhabitants.

The building of the cathedral began after 1317, with the bell tower and the first span, under the episcopate of Arnaud Roger (1317–128), the first bishop of Lombez. His successor, Jacques Colonna (1328–1341), friend of the poet Petrarch — appointed honorary canon in 1330 — played a key role in the early stages of the work. The Black Prince (1356–1976) and the Wars of Religion partially spared the building, although repairs were needed.

The original plan provided for a three-nave cathedral, but only the north ship was completed due to lack of means. The nave south, never built, leaves visible preparatory pillars. The cathedral was later consecrated in 1770, after interior modifications to adapt to Tridentine precepts. The ground was raised to counter the humidity due to the proximity of the Sava. Ranked as a Historic Monument in 1846, it houses remarkable furniture, including 17th-century stalls, 18th-century organ and 15th to 16th-century stained glass windows.

The organ, whose buffet dates from 1743, and the medieval windows attributed to Arnaud de Moles are among its treasures. In 2020, a 15th century Polychrome Tomblay was rediscovered. After the Revolution, the bishopric was abolished in 1790, and the cathedral lost its episcopal function. Today, it remains a major testimony of Toulouse Gothic and Occitan religious history.

Architecturally, the cathedral is characterized by its mirandes (round paths), quadripartite vaults, and its mixture of brick and stone. The west facade, in stone, contrasts with the rest of the brick building. Lateral chapels, stained glass windows and the bell tower with geminied bays in mitre illustrate the influence of mendicant orders and local techniques. The restorations of the 19th and 20th centuries preserved its integrity, while revealing medieval elements such as the 12th century Baptistery.

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