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Coordinates: 43°18′50″N 3°28′9″E / 43.31389°N 3.46917°E / 43.31389; 3.46917
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'''Agde Cathedral''' (''Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Agde'') is a [[Roman Catholic]] [[cathedral]] dedicated to [[Saint Stephen]] located in [[Agde]] in the [[Hérault]] ''[[Département in France|département]]'' of southern [[France]]. It stands on the bank of the [[Hérault River]].
'''Agde Cathedral''' (''Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Agde'') is a [[Roman Catholic]] [[cathedral]] dedicated to [[Saint Stephen]] located in [[Agde]] in the [[Hérault]] ''[[Département in France|département]]'' of southern [[France]]. It stands on the bank of the [[Hérault River]].


It was formerly the seat of the [[Bishop of Agde]], the last of whom, Charles-François-Siméon de Rouvroy de Saint-Simon de Vermandois de Sandricourt, was [[guillotine]]d during [[the Terror]]. The see was not restored after the [[French Revolution]] and by the [[Concordat of 1801]] its parishes were added to the [[Diocese of Montpellier]].
The present building was constructed in the 12th century, replacing a [[Carolingian]] church of the 9th century that stood on the foundations of a 5th century [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] church, formerly a temple of [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]].


==History and description ==
It was formerly the seat of the [[Bishop of Agde]]. The see was not restored after the [[French Revolution]] and by the [[Concordat of 1801]] its parishes were added to the [[Diocese of Montpellier]].
The present building was constructed in the 12th century, beginning in 1173 under the direction of bishop William II of Agde, and replaced a [[Carolingian]] church of the 9th century that stood on the foundations of a 5th century [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] church, formerly a temple of [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]].


The cathedral is remarkable for being built of black [[basalt]] from the nearby volcanic [[Mont St. Loup]] quarries. The building is extremely strong and was designed to serve as a fortress as much as a church: the walls are between 2 and 3 metres thick, and the square tower, 35 metres high, could also function as a keep, or donjon. The [[crenellation]]s and [[machicolation]]s are very prominent, and again, more characteristic of a fortress than of a church. It was declared a ''[[monument historique]]'' in 1840.<ref> [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=RETROUVER&FIELD_2=DENO&VALUE_2=CATHEDRALE&NUMBER=78&GRP=0&REQ=%28%28CATHEDRALE%29%20%3aDENO%20%29&USRNAME=nobody&USRPWD=4%24%2534P&SPEC=9&SYN=1&IMLY=&MAX1=1&MAX2=100&MAX3=100&DOM=Tous Ministère de la Culture, base Mérimée, « Notice no PA00103340 »] </ref>
The cathedral is remarkable for being constructed of black [[basalt]] from the nearby volcanic [[Mont St. Loup]] quarries.


The [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] [[cloister]] which once adjoined the cathedral was demolished in 1857. Many of the materials, such as the [[capital]]s and the columns, were shortly afterwards reused for the construction of the [[Lady Chapel]], which is now used as the entrance.
The building is extremely strong and was designed to serve as a fortress as much as a church: the walls are between 2 and 3 metres thick, and the square tower, 35 metres high, could also function as a keep, or donjon.


In the severe interior the 17th century high altar of polychromatic marble stands out all the more, as do the organs in [[Baroque]] style.
In the severe interior the 17th century high altar of polychromatic marble stands out all the more, as do the organs in [[Baroque]] style.


Of the cathedral's five bells, four are hung in the belltower, and were cast by Burdin-Aîné of Lyon in 1894 and 1895. the fif th is on top of the bellower and is used only for the chiming of the clock, cast in 1665 by Daniac Fulcrand at Béziers, and declared a ''monument historique'' in 1959.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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</gallery>
</gallery>


==See also==
==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources and external links==
{{Commonscat|Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Agde|Agde Cathedral}}
{{Commonscat|Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Agde|Agde Cathedral}}

==Sources==
* {{structurae|id=s0018814|title=Agde Cathedral}}
* {{structurae|id=s0018814|title=Agde Cathedral}}
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/inventai/itiinv/cathedrale/docimage/agde/cat_agde.html Ministère de la culture: archive photographs] {{fr icon}}
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/inventai/itiinv/cathedrale/docimage/agde/cat_agde.html Ministère de la culture: archive photographs] {{fr icon}}
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[[Category:Former cathedrals in France]]
[[Category:Former cathedrals in France]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hérault]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hérault]]

{{France-church-stub}}
{{RC-cathedral-stub}}


[[cs:Katedrála v Agde]]
[[cs:Katedrála v Agde]]

Revision as of 12:40, 12 June 2011

Agde Cathedral, on the bank of the Hérault River
The cathedral walls

Agde Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Agde) is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Stephen located in Agde in the Hérault département of southern France. It stands on the bank of the Hérault River.

It was formerly the seat of the Bishop of Agde, the last of whom, Charles-François-Siméon de Rouvroy de Saint-Simon de Vermandois de Sandricourt, was guillotined during the Terror. The see was not restored after the French Revolution and by the Concordat of 1801 its parishes were added to the Diocese of Montpellier.

History and description

The present building was constructed in the 12th century, beginning in 1173 under the direction of bishop William II of Agde, and replaced a Carolingian church of the 9th century that stood on the foundations of a 5th century Roman church, formerly a temple of Diana.

The cathedral is remarkable for being built of black basalt from the nearby volcanic Mont St. Loup quarries. The building is extremely strong and was designed to serve as a fortress as much as a church: the walls are between 2 and 3 metres thick, and the square tower, 35 metres high, could also function as a keep, or donjon. The crenellations and machicolations are very prominent, and again, more characteristic of a fortress than of a church. It was declared a monument historique in 1840.[1]

The Romanesque cloister which once adjoined the cathedral was demolished in 1857. Many of the materials, such as the capitals and the columns, were shortly afterwards reused for the construction of the Lady Chapel, which is now used as the entrance.

In the severe interior the 17th century high altar of polychromatic marble stands out all the more, as do the organs in Baroque style.

Of the cathedral's five bells, four are hung in the belltower, and were cast by Burdin-Aîné of Lyon in 1894 and 1895. the fif th is on top of the bellower and is used only for the chiming of the clock, cast in 1665 by Daniac Fulcrand at Béziers, and declared a monument historique in 1959.

References

43°18′50″N 3°28′9″E / 43.31389°N 3.46917°E / 43.31389; 3.46917