Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral

With no fewer than 167 cathedrals across the country, France is home to an exceptionally rich Christian heritage. These buildings offer both architectural and historical insight into the cities and regions they represent. Here in Perpignan, at the foot of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral, French Catalonia shines in all its glory. The cathedral was built to replace the smaller and less suitable Saint-Jean-le-Vieux church, which no longer met the needs of what was then the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca. Construction began in 1324, with King Sanç of Majorca himself laying the first stone — a moment still commemorated by an inscription on the second pillar to the left as you enter. But just twenty years later, the project came to a sudden halt. The timing couldn’t have been worse: within a decade, the king had died, the Kingdom of Majorca was absorbed back into the Crown of Aragon in northeastern Spain, the Black Death struck, and the economy collapsed. It wasn’t until 1433 that construction resumed — with scaled-back ambitions. The original design included three naves, but the plan was simplified to a single large one, following the advice of Guillem Sagrera, the renowned architect behind the Palma Cathedral in Majorca. In 1509, after 185 years of delays and setbacks, Perpignan finally had its cathedral. From the outside, Saint-Jean-Baptiste reflects the southern Gothic style, which blends elements of Romanesque architecture. The structure is solid and heavy, built with typical Roussillon materials like brick, river pebbles, and cut stone. The stone porch, added in 1630, is decorated with statues of “Homeland” and “Loyalty,” while the wrought-iron bell tower was added in 1743. On it, you’ll see three stacked clock faces. The top one, with a single hand, tells the time. The middle one shows the day, the zodiac sign, and the moon phase. The bottom one displays the quarter hours.The cathedral is just as impressive on the inside, with a single nave measuring 70 metres long, 18 metres wide, and 26 metres high. As you walk through, take a moment to admire some of its treasures.These include the magnificent flamboyant Gothic organ case from the late 14th century, the white altarpiece in the choir from the early 17th century, and the tomb of King Sanç just below the organ. One of the more unusual relics is the mummified forearm and left hand of Saint John the Baptist, apparently left behind by a pilgrim in 1323 — and occasionally displayed in one of the side chapels. With over 450,000 visitors each year, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral is without a doubt one of Perpignan’s must-see landmarks.