Cathedral of Saint-Just and Saint-Pasteur

Although it’s located in the south of France, this remarkable cathedral has all the grandeur and features you’d expect from a northern Gothic cathedral. Built between the 13th and 14th centuries at the request of Pope Clement IV, it showcases a stunning example of radiant Gothic architecture. Its choir, with soaring vaults reaching over 40 meters high, is the tallest and most spacious in southern France—and the fourth highest in the entire country. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1840, it’s one of Narbonne’s most important landmarks—and one of the most imposing. And yet… it was never actually finished! That’s right. After years of bitter disagreement between the bishops, who wanted to complete the cathedral, and the city’s consuls, who were firmly against it, construction was brought to a halt. The heart of the conflict? A section of 5th-century ramparts that stood right where the transept was meant to be built. The consuls refused to have them demolished, seeing them as a precious link to the city’s past. After nearly two decades of deadlock, a compromise was reached: instead of continuing the cathedral, a cloister was built alongside it, preserving the ancient ramparts—and restoring peace between the church and the city.Of course, this meant the cathedral was never completed. It was one of the most ambitious building projects of medieval France, and what you see today is just a part of what was originally planned. Still, despite its unfinished state, it remains one of the most awe-inspiring structures in Narbonne, and the people here have embraced it with pride. Inside, don’t miss the breathtaking Treasury Room. Built in the 15th century to host Chapter meetings, it now houses a dazzling collection of precious objects, reliquaries, and tapestries—shining examples of the wealth and influence once held by the archbishops of Narbonne.