Notre Dame and Saint Castor Cathedral

Welcome to the Cathedral of Nîmes, known as Notre Dame and Saint Castor. This building was first erected in the 11th century, and consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096. It was then called Sainte-Marie. It is believed that this was not the first religious building to be constructed on this site. Findings from previous excavations tell us that the site was already occupied by a Roman temple several centuries earlier. Sainte-Marie Cathedral was destroyed twice during the Wars of Religion, first in 1567 and then in 1621. It was rebuilt in the classical style and named Notre Dame. During the French Revolution, it was renamed Saint-Castor, in reference to Castor d’Apt, a bishop in the 5th century. In 1822, the original gate was demolished and replaced by the current neoclassical gate with its triangular pediment, which you can still see today. The interior was refurbished at the end of the 19th century by the architect Henri Antoine Révoil, in a fine Romanesque-Byzantine style. Feel free to enter and see for yourself. As you can see, after so many alterations, the cathedral now boasts several different architectural styles. Its Romanesque features include, its Gothic north tower, its classical façade, and, the Baroque chapel inside the building. The medieval frieze still visible on the façade is a remnant of the very first cathedral and is one of the region’s key Romanesque sculptures. Inside, you’ll see an early Christian sarcophagus, the tombs of Cardinal de Bernis and Monseigneur Cohon, bishop of Nîmes, as well as paintings by local masters and a 17th-century organ. You won’t want to miss these treasures!