Saint-Michel Cathedral

Introducing the Saint-Michel Cathedral. Back in 1803, it dethroned the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire in the medieval city to become the official cathedral. At the time, the bastide was truly booming, while the medieval city had been completely neglected. It was thus decided to make Saint-Michel the new cathedral. Construction actually began way back in 1247, on the orders of King Louis IX, who had reclaimed the city from the Counts of Carcassonne a few years earlier. The church was soon remodeled to accommodate the ever-growing number of worshippers in the lower town. Things took a turn for the worse in 1355, when the Black Prince raided Carcassonne. That would be Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales and son of King Edward III of England. In 1355, he launched a full-scale campaign across the south-west to cripple French forces and spread fear. The towns of Montgiscard, Narbonne and the lower city of Carcassonne were pillaged and set ablaze. Though badly damaged by the flames, the cathedral of Saint-Michel was one of the few buildings to survive. It was restored and even got a new fortified wall for extra protection, leaning right up against the nave. Over the centuries, the church has seen its share of modifications. In 1849, it was once again damaged by fire during the night. Architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was commissioned to restore it; it was to be his first major project in the city. It’s thanks to him that we can still admire it today, in all its Southern French Gothic charm. It was listed, of course, as a Historical Monument back in 1886. Feel free to go inside and explore! It’s definitely worth a look.