St Bertrand II | Episode 66

This is one of the most spectacular cathedrals in the South of France, perched high above the Pyrenees and only 10 minutes from my house. The Cathédrale Sainte-Marie de Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges in Haute-Garonne, Occitanie's key facts - The cathedral sits on the acropolis of a Celtic oppidum that became the great Roman city of Lugdunum Convenarum, founded by General Pompey in 72 BC on his way back from Spain The Roman city was devastated by Vandals in 409 and disappeared in 585 In 1083, Bertrand de l'Isle-Jourdain, a knight and canon of Toulouse, was named Bishop of Comminges. He ordered the construction of the cathedral and the Romanesque cloister. He was later canonised in the 13th century and the town took his name The site became a major stage on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela In 1295, Bertrand de Got, also Bishop of Comminges, became Pope Clement V. From 1304 he began building the huge Gothic cathedral we see today (1305-1352) over the old Romanesque church The cathedral was the seat of the Diocese of Comminges until 1801 when it was suppressed Inside: 12th-century bell tower built inside the nave, stunning 16th-century wooden choir stalls with 66 misericords, famous Renaissance organ, and a beautiful Romanesque cloister. Listed Monument Historique and UNESCO World Heritage as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. Surrounded by a fortified enclosure and overlooking the ruins of the Roman lower town in the plain below. #SaintBertrandDeComminges #CathedraleSaintBertrand #Occitanie #HauteGaronne #Pyrenees #France #LugdunumConvenarum #Comminges #CathedraleSainteMarie #CheminDeCompostelle #SantiagoDeCompostela #PlusBeauxVillagesDeFrance #Patrimoine #HistoireDeFrance #GothicCathedral #Romanesque