Saint-Lizier Cathedrals, Saint-Lizier, France

Saint-Lizier Cathedral can refer to either of the two former co-cathedrals of the town of Saint-Lizier, Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède de Saint-Lizier) and St. Lizier's Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Lizier de Saint-Lizier), dedicated to Saint Lycerius.

Saint-Lizier falls into two quite separate parts, each with its own cathedral. The lower part contains the old village around the Cathedral of Saint Lizier while the upper part, surrounded by ancient fortifications, includes the Bishop's Palace.

St. Lizier's Cathedral features an octagonal tower and attractive cloisters with a balcony and interesting carved stone decorations at the top of the columns. There are a large number of ancient (11th century) frescoes inside the cathedral.

The cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Routes of Santiago de Compostela.

The Church of the Holy Cross

The church of the former Franciscan monastery was built probably between 1515 and 1520. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Rauma. The church stands by the small stream of Raumanjoki (Rauma river).

The exact age of the Church of the Holy Cross is unknown, but it was built to serve as the monastery church of the Rauma Franciscan Friary. The monastery had been established in the early 15th century and a wooden church was built on this location around the year 1420.

The Church of the Holy Cross served the monastery until 1538, when it was abandoned for a hundred years as the Franciscan friary was disbanded in the Swedish Reformation. The church was re-established as a Lutheran church in 1640, when the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed by fire.

The choir of the two-aisle grey granite church features medieval murals and frescoes. The white steeple of the church was built in 1816 and has served as a landmark for seafarers.

Saint-Lizier Cathedrals

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The Church of the Holy Cross