Saint-Fulcran cathedral of Lodève, city of Herault at the foot of the Black Mountains, 50 km north-west of Montpellier, was built in the 13th century on the bases of previous buildings, a first church was raised at the 4th century.
First dedicated to St. Genius, the cathedral church was from the seventeenth century dedicated to St. Fulcran, bishop of the city around the year one thousand.
Listed as a Historic Monument since 1840, the cathedral (which has retained this title although the bishopric was transferred to Montpellier) is resolutely Gothic style. Almost 60 m long, the building has a nave 15 m wide, vaulted 25 m high (45 m transept).
Lined with side chapels, the nave ends in an apse choir illuminated by nine 12m high Gothic windows.
Massive, even austere, the cathedral is also endowed with a cloister.
Interrupted several times during the Hundred Years War (which explains why the facade was fortified and equipped with a walkway with watchtowers), the works are barely completed when the wars of Religion occur.
Pillaged and damaged, the cathedral is restored in the same way in the 17th century.
It houses many sculptures depicting saints (including high reliefs on the steeple), and its furniture is after the wars of Religion. However, the funeral monument of Bishop Plantavit de la Pause (circa 1650) will be observed in the chapel of Saint-Michel. See also the walls of the choir decorated with eight monumental canvases signed Jean Coustou (1719-1791). The windows of the apse (nineteenth), a high altar marble (eighteenth) or the reliquary of St. Fulcran (1808) are also remarkable.
Open all year. Free visit or commented (on request). Information on +33 4 67 44 06 32.
