Сочетание романского и готического стилей Combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles

Rating 8110

On the territory of the Carcassonne fortress there is a beautiful old basilica. The oldest parts of the temple that we can see today date back to the 12th century. All that has survived from this era is the first two eastern columns of the nave and the dilapidated crypt. Whatever it was, but the Cathedral of Carcassonne was consecrated in 1150. Although there were still 180 years before the end of construction. Due to such a long construction, the temple is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Which in itself is already interesting.
The building was largely damaged during the Crusaders' siege of Carcassonne in 1209. But this temple lost the status of the Cathedral only in 1803, when another temple was built outside the fortress in the city. And a hundred years later, he received the status of a papal basilica.
The temple has excellent acoustics and very beautiful stained glass windows (especially 2 large "roses"), which have come down to us from the 14th century.
There is a large organ, which is considered the oldest in France, because it stood here already in 1522. And every year, on any Sunday, from June to September, the most famous organists come here to enliven the interior of the temple with their playing. And their concerts are free! The basilica is worth taking a break from exploring the fortress and devoting time to it.