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Origin and history

Saint-Paul-Aurelien Cathedral of Saint-Pol-de-Léon, located in the Finistère in Brittany, is a Gothic building built from the 13th to the 16th century. It succeeds two earlier buildings: a first cathedral destroyed by the Danes in 875, and a Romanesque church damaged in 1170 by Henry II Plantagenet. The construction of the present building began in 1230 under Bishop Derrian, with a western facade inspired by Norman cathedrals such as Lisieux and Coutances. The nave, built of Caen stone, was completed and consecrated in 1334, while the transept and the bedside, partially preserved from the Romanesque period, were redesigned and completed in the 15th century under the bishops Jean Validire and Guillaume Le Ferron.

The Norman influence is particularly visible in the facade, organized in harmonic facade with two towers, and in the nave, whose elevation and arcades recall those of the Cathedral of Coutances. The bedside, on the other hand, combines a walk-by with radiant chapels and a flat bedside with redents, reflecting an original synthesis of French and English Gothic styles. The cathedral houses remarkable furniture, including 66 16th century stalls, baroque altarpieces, and old and modern stained glass windows, as well as reliquaries and tombs of local dignitaries, such as Roland de Neufville, Bishop of Leo in the 16th century.

Ranked a historic monument in 1840, the cathedral underwent major restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries, notably under the direction of architects Charles Boyer and Étienne Puyo. It remains an important place of pilgrimage, integrated with the Tro Breiz route, and a symbol of Breton religious heritage. Its organ, built in the 17th century and redesigned in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as its legendary 6th century bell, known as the "bell of Saint Pol de Léon", reinforces its historical and cultural prestige.

The cathedral is also known for its "Shelves of the Night", a set of thirty-five wooden boxes housing identified skulls dating back to the 16th century. These reliquaries, classified as historical monuments, bear witness to funeral practices and local devotion. The partially Romanesque transept and the choir, rebuilt in the 15th century, illustrate the architectural and liturgical evolutions of the building over the centuries. Today, the cathedral remains an active place of worship and a major tourist site in Brittany.

The history of the cathedral is closely linked to that of Saint Paul Aurélien, a Welsh monk who came to evangelize the region in the sixth century and became the first bishop of Leon. His life, told in a 9th century Vita, marked the religious identity of the city. The cathedral, the former seat of the bishopric of Leon, which was abolished in 1801, is now a co-cathedral of the diocese of Quimper and Leon. Its architecture, furniture and history make it an emblematic monument of Breton heritage, combining Norman, English and local influences.

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