CATHEDRALE SAINTE-MARIE

About

Listed as a Historic Monument, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral, in its present form, has undergone several transformations over the centuries under the guidance of three bishops.

Overlooking the Pyrenees, Sainte-Marie Cathedral, built around 1100 by Bertrand de l’Isle, Bishop of Comminges, is surrounded by a cloister and a fortified enclosure. In the early 14th century, it was extended in the Gothic style to accommodate pilgrims. Around 1535, the Renaissance rood screen and choir stalls were unveiled, and the organ was completed around 1550.

From the Romanesque period, it retains part of its cloister and its portal. Having been remodelled over the centuries, it now harmoniously combines the Romanesque and Southern Gothic styles. It captivates visitors with its Romanesque bell-tower porch (12th century), its carved choir stalls, its stained-glass windows, its organ case (16th century) and its liturgical treasures (12th–19th centuries).

Listed by UNESCO as part of the Saint-Jacques-de-Comminges pilgrimage routes, it forms part of the Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges/Valcabrère Grand Site.