Located on Place Pey-Berland, Bordeaux’s Cathédrale Saint-André is the city’s most imposing place of worship. Proud of its history, it was the venue for the wedding of Anne of Austria and Louis XIII, King of France and Navarre, in 1615. With an interior 124 m long, a nave 18 m wide and an impressive 29 m high vaulted ceiling at the highest point of the choir, it is considered one of Bordeaux’s finest heritage buildings. No wonder, then, that it was embellished by the impressive projections of the Luminiscence show.
The story of Bordeaux’s thousand-year-old patroness
Saint-André Cathedral has seen a lot! First of all, part of its vaults collapsed in 1427 following an earthquake! In 1787, a fire caused by a welding accident destroyed the chapel. A terrible hurricane in 1820 toppled the pediment of the north facade onto the vaults, and one of the spires was struck by lightning in the process. Suffice to say, she’s a survivor! Consecrated in 1096 by Pope Urban II, it was rebuilt in Gothic style between the 12th and 16th centuries.
What can you do at Saint-André Cathedral?
The cathedral occasionally hosts cultural events such as concerts and exhibitions. So it’s worth keeping up to date, as the venue offers a grandiose dimension to the events held there. In particular, it has hosted Candlelight candlelit concerts, and has thrilled Bordeaux audiences note after note with its unrivalled acoustics. At last you can visit it, and for free! We highly recommend a visit to admire its impressive Gothic architecture!
Who is Saint-André?
In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Saint Andrew is considered the first disciple called by Jesus, which gives him an important role. Its name, derived from the Greek, means “virile” or “courageous“.
To whom do we owe the cathedral’s importance?
In 1305, a certain Bertrand de Got, none other than the archbishop of Bordeaux, became pope under the name of Clement V. But he had trouble establishing himself in Rome, so he decided to transfer the papacy to Avignon, France. However, he did not forget his Gascon roots, and provided funds to give Bordeaux’s Saint-André cathedral a fac elift. He transformed the former Romanesque church into a superb Gothic edifice, a highly prized architectural style at the time.
When can we visit?
Apart from the events it hosts from time to time, the cathedral is open in the mornings from 10am to 12pm, and in the afternoons from 2pm to 7pm, from Tuesday to Saturday. On Mondays she welcomes you only in the afternoon, and on Sundays from 9:30 am to 6 pm.
Located on Place Pey Berland, in the heart of the city, Cathédrale Saint-André is right next to the town hall and can be reached by tram A or B. Being such a unique and serene place, it is therefore part sublime locations in Bordeaux to be covered in candles for a classical Candlelight concert.