Cathédrale Saint Pierre

A Romanesque cathedral!
The architect Paul Abadie fils undertook a vast restoration campaign in the 19th century. Since 2000, the beautification and restoration work has continued.

Saint-Pierre Cathedral, standing proudly on the edge of the plateau, has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1840. The exceptional quality of its architecture and its sculpted program make this 12th century Romanesque building an essential destination for lovers of medieval art. Its restoration - begun in 2008 - is now complete, providing an opportunity for an exciting (re)discovery.

Saint-Pierre d'Angoulême is the work of Girard de Blay, a powerful bishop of the early 12th century who wanted to make the cathedral the showcase and symbol of his ambitions. The construction site extended from 1110 to Girard's death in 1136.
In the 19th century, the cathedral owed its preservation to Paul Abadie fils (1812 - 1884). The architect - who was also the architect of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre in Paris - tirelessly directed the first major restoration works from 1852 to 1875.

About twenty meters high, the screen facade with arcades, featuring several dozen sculpted figures, is a masterpiece of Romanesque art from the South-West. Like a nod to today's Angoulême, International City of Comics and Images, it evokes a large illustrated book where characters surrounded by arcades form the beginnings of a very first comic !

Romanesque architecture is said to be a result of experimentation. The interior of Cathédrale Saint-Pierre shows us once again! Here, there is no dark barrel-vaulted nave or narrow aisles… everything is light, space and amplitude. Since 2016, the Trésor has benefited from a breathtaking scenography, the work of internationally renowned visual artist Jean-Michel Othoniel.

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