NOTRE-DAME-ET-SAINT-PRIVAT CATHEDRAL

To see it still dominating the city with its height and volume, one cannot doubt the ancient power of the bishops. In 1368, Pope Urban V, pope of Avignon but above all a child of the Gévaudan region (he was born in Grizac in 1310), decided to build the cathedral of Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Privat. He wanted it to be large and imposing, and in 1508 it was further enriched by the addition of a flamboyant bell tower (84 meters) with an ornate spire, and in 1509 by the sober bell tower of the Chapitre (65 meters). Its appearance was modified by the addition of a neo-Gothic porch in the early ^20th century. Inside, the nave, with its ribbed vaults rising to a height of almost 25 metres, is surprising in its simplicity. The side chapels are beautifully furnished with altarpieces, carved wooden stalls and a black Auvergne-style Virgin Mary. The choir features Aubusson tapestries from the early ^18th century. Don't miss the 1654 organ and the descent into the crypt where the saint was buried. The clapper of the Marie-Thérèse bell, also known as the "Non-Pareille" because of its exceptional size and destroyed during the Wars of Religion, stands near the door of the main bell tower. To fully discover this building and its history, we recommend you take the guided tour offered by the tourist office! In summer, you can climb up to the bell tower to admire the city's rooftops.