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Origin and history

The Cathedral of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais of Lectoure, located in Gers in Occitanie, was the seat of the ancient diocese of Lectoure from the 6th century. The present building, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, succeeds several earlier churches, including one dedicated to Saint Thomas. The Romanesque cathedral, partially destroyed during the siege of 1473 by the troops of Louis XI, was rebuilt from 1487 under the impulse of Bishop Pierre d'Abzac de La Twelve and the master builder Mathieu Reguaneau, who erected the 45-metre bell tower.

In the 16th century Bishop Jean de Barton entrusted the architect Arnaud Cazanove with the renovation of the choir and the nave, introducing a walk-through and chapels of southern Gothic style. The wars of Religion (1561-1562) seriously damaged the building: the vaults were cut down and the south wall was razed. The reconstruction, carried out after 1600 by architect Bathia, simplified the initial plans, adding a triumphal arch between the nave and the choir.

Ranked a historic monument in 1912, the cathedral lost its episcopal status in 1801, becoming a parish church. In the 18th century, repairs were undertaken, but the steeple arrow, which was crushed, was demolished in 1782. The 19th century saw the suppression of the jube (1825) and minor restorations. The organ, built by Auguste Phébade (1838-1843), and the 17th century stalls bear witness to its rich furniture heritage.

The architecture combines a unique Romanesque nave, chapels between foothills, and a choir with a walk-in inspired by the nearby cathedrals of Auch and Toulouse. The bell tower, symbol of the city, served as an observation post during conflicts. The chapels house retables, baroque statues, and the tomb of Bishop Claude-François de Narbonne-Pelet. The Sacred Art Museum, housed in the ancient sacristy, exhibits liturgical objects.

The relics of Saint Clair, evangelizer of Lectoure, were translated in 1858 after having been preserved in Bordeaux since the ninth century. The cathedral, marked by religious conflicts and reconstructions, illustrates the architectural and historical evolution of southwestern France, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

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