SAINT-PIERRE-SAINT-PAUL-ET-SAINT-ANDRÉ CATHEDRAL

When Saint Lupicin and Saint Romain arrived in Condat ("confluence" in Gallic) at the beginning of the^5th century, they built an oratory on the site of the present-day cathedral in the town of Saint-Claude. Classified as a historical monument in 1906, the cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, is a masterpiece of Comtois Gothic art. It is often referred to only by the first saint. Formerly the abbey church of the Saint-Oyend abbey, it was built between 1350 and 1500, then completed between 1726 and 1746, which explains why the style of its façade is very 18th century. It was elevated to the rank of basilica in 1952 by Pope Pius XII. Its massive architecture, with walls three meters thick, allowed it to serve as a refuge for the inhabitants of Saint-Claude in case of invasion, always feared in this strategic region coveted by the Swiss cantons, the dukes of Savoy and Burgundy. Inside, the most interesting pieces are the 74 choir stalls. Made of walnut, they were created in the 15th century by the Genevan sculptor Jehan de Vitry. Also noteworthy is the Renaissance-style altarpiece in the left side, donated in 1532 by Pierre de la Baume, Bishop of Geneva. In the right side, you can see the chapel containing the shrine of Saint Claude. The stained glass windows were restored in 1999. Also noteworthy: the organ gallery, the work of the Parisian workshops Daublaine and Callinet, inaugurated in 1843.