© avignon et provence
Saint Siffrein Cathedral, Carpentras
A southern gothic style cathedral built on the remains of a Romanesque church
Pope Benedict XIII ordered the reconstruction of this building after the original Romanesque church collapsed, in 1404.
The exterior has lots of finely carved arches, gargolyes and features such as the infamous 'ball rats' that you can spot as you wander around.
The main building that you can see today took around 115 years to complete, with successive architects adding on Gothic vaults, ribs, and high stained glass windows.
Inside you'll find painted panels and ironwork, fine altar pieces, marble sculptures and holy relics.
Visitor comments
- I visited it when I came to visit a friend of mine living here. He took me on a tour of the building. While the exterior might be a bit simple, the interior was breathtaking!" - Trip Advisor
- "While not as grand as many cathedrals I have visited, the relative starkness of this one really brings home the sheer size of the structure with its stunning, high vaulted roof. Although I comment that the interior is relatively stark, there is still plenty of artwork to be found and there are also some splendid windows to admire." - Trip Advisor
- "The cathedral is a beautiful example of romanesque architecture,characterised by unified space and strong wall space. It is the biggest church in the dioceses,with anave that has six ribbed bays. The decoration inside testifies to the great artistic fervor of the papal presence in the area." - Trip Advisor
When to come
Opening hours are from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 8.30am to 12am. Confession hours: Every Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 & Saturdays from 11:00 to 12:00.
