Agen Cathedral

Agen, France

Agen Cathedral's (Cathédrale Saint-Caprais d'Agen) visible structure dates back to the 12th century. It was built as a collegiate church of canons dedicated to Saint Caprasius, on the foundations of a basilica sacked by the Normans in 853 but thereafter restored.

Sacked again in December 1561 during the Wars of Religion, by two years after the countrywide coup d'état that took place in 1789, the cathedral had come to store fodder before being reopened in 1796 and being elevated to the status of the city's cathedral in 1801. This new cathedral replaced the old cathedral in the town, which was destroyed during the French Revolution, thereby becoming the bishop's seat in the diocese.

The cathedral appears in one of the earliest color photographs ever taken by Louis Arthur Ducos du Hauron in 1877.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Place du Maréchal Foch 10, Agen, France

See all sites in Agen

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Château de Montluc (7,3 km)
Château de Castelnoubel (7,4 km)

Notre-Dame de Marmande (48,5 km)
Château de Duras (62,9 km)
Château de Bonaguil (48,4 km)
Château de Nérac (23,6 km)
Condom Cathedral (34 km)
Lectoure Cathedral (30,4 km)
Château de Lavardens (50,3 km)
Flaran Abbey (40,3 km)
Château de Larressingle (38,2 km)

User Reviews

Eric Jetner (15 months ago)
Such a gorgeous and quiet cathedral. Between Roman and Gothic get inside to enjoy the paintings on the walls.

Faye McKinney (2 years ago)
Beautiful Cathedral in beautiful condition. Set in a lovey square. The paintings inside are in exquisite condition. If religious there are a range of candles to purchase and light in memory of others.

Annunaki (2 years ago)
Exelent

Djamel Besseghir (3 years ago)
Top

Andrey Barbosa (4 years ago)
It is a beautiful cathedral and it is close to some stores like toystore, bookstore, restaurants and a children's playground, small but nice. The city is amazing, full of history and sites seeing. There are many churchs around to visit. Usually It is open, so you can go in to rest and pray. It is worthy going to.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Fagerjord

Historic Site of the week

Santa Maria in Trastevere

The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches of Rome. The basic floor plan and wall structure of the church date back to the 340s, and much of the structure to 1140-43. The first sanctuary was built in 221 and 227 by Pope Callixtus I and later completed by Pope Julius I.

The inscription on the episcopal throne states that this is the first church in Rome dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, although some claim that privilege belongs to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. A Christian house-church was founded here about 220 by Pope Saint Callixtus I (217-222) on the site of the Taberna meritoria, a refuge for retired soldiers. The area was made available for Christian use by Emperor Alexander Severus when he settled a dispute between the Christians and tavern-keepers.

The church underwent two restorations in the fifth and eighth centuries and in 1140-43 it was re-erected on its old foundations under Pope Innocent II.