looking up to the clock & bell tower of Cathedrale Saint-Sacerdos

the back exterior of Cathedrale Saint-Sacerdos

the side exterior of Cathedrale Saint-Sacerdos

candles and alter in Cathedrale Saint-Sacerdos sarlat

the exterior of the Cathedrale Saint-Sacerdos in sarlat

Looking over rooftops at back of cathedral in Sarlat

looking up to the front of Cathedrale Saint-Sacerdos in sarlat

Cathedrale Saint-Sacerdos, Sarlat-la-Caneda

Old abbey church of Sarlat, transformed into a Gothic cathedral

featured in Sights & Sites

Taking some three and a half centuries to build, this small cathedral is the centre piece and heart of the community in Sarlat-la-Caneda.

When Sarlat became a diocese (district under the control of a Bishop) in 1317, the first bishop decided to transform the old abbey church into a cathedral worthy of the name. But the Hundred Years' War ended the architectural project. It was not until the early 16th-century that the Bishop Armand of Gontaud-Biron decided to resume the works. He commissioned the architect Pierre Esclache to complete the cathedral.

Work ceased again in 1519 when the Bishop leaves Sarlat to take up an appointment as Archbishop of Nazareth. After some time building commences once again, but not until 1930 and this time under the architect Blaise Bernard. Unhappy with his work the Bishop returns to Sarlat and work is halted once more.

Construction did not begin again until 1682 and the cathedral was completed in 1685.