Cathedral of Our Lady of Doms Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d'Avignon | |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
District | Archdiocese of Avignon |
Rite | Roman |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
Location | |
Location | Avignon, France |
Geographic coordinates | 43°57′06″N 4°48′27″E / 43.95167°N 4.80750°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Church |
Style | Romanesque, Gothic |
Groundbreaking | 12th century |
Completed | 1425 |
Official name: Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge | |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | i, ii, iv |
Designated | 1995 |
Reference no. | 228 |
State Party | France |
Website | |
Official Website |
Avignon Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d'Avignon) is a Roman Catholic church located next to the Palais des Papes in Avignon, France. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Avignon.
The cathedral is a Romanesque building, constructed primarily in the second half of the 12th century.[1] The bell tower collapsed in 1405 and was rebuilt in 1425. In 1670–1672 the apse was rebuilt and extended.[2] The extension led to the destruction of the medieval cloister.[3]
The building was abandoned and allowed to deteriorate during the Revolution, but it was reconsecrated in 1822 and restored by the archbishop Célestin Dupont in 1835–1842.[4] The most prominent feature of the cathedral is a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary atop the bell tower which was erected in 1859.[4] The interior contains many works of art. The most famous of these is the mausoleum of Pope John XXII (died 1334), a 14th-century Gothic edifice. It was moved in 1759, damaged during the Revolution, and restored to its original position in 1840.[5] The cathedral was listed as a Monument historique in 1840.[6] In 1995, the cathedral, along with the Palais des Papes and other historic buildings in the Avignon city center, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its outstanding architecture and its importance during the 14th and 15th centuries.[3]