Saint-Nazarius Basilica

The basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, to give its full name, was the first building to be restored by Viollet-le-Duc as part of his great restoration project here. It is believed that an earlier cathedral was built here, or outside the fortifications, as far back as the 6th century, only to be destroyed during the Saracen occupation. The basilica before you was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style very much in vogue at the time. However, it was remodeled several times between the 12th and 14th centuries, drawing from both Romanesque and later Gothic influences. The Romanesque choir, for example, was replaced by a Gothic choir. It’s the citadel’s crown jewel and the very structure that caught Prosper Mérimée’s attention in the 19th century, back when there was talk of destroying the entire medieval city. He listed it as a historical monument as early as 1840, thus saving it from ruin to be restored by Viollet-le-Duc. It was Carcassonne’s cathedral up until 1801, when it lost its title to the church of Saint-Michel, located in the lower town that was booming at the time. But in 1898, Pope Leo XIII named it a basilica in recognition of its past renown and beauty. It’s dedicated to Saint Nazarius and Saint Celsus, two Roman martyrs executed in Milan. To this day, the church sports some of the most beautiful stained-glass windows in Southern France. Feel free to peek inside and explore the lavish Gothic interior of this architectural masterpiece that’s weathered centuries, hidden behind the city walls.