Bordeaux Cathedral

Bordeaux Cathedral, officially Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux, is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Bordeaux and the seat of the local archdiocese. The building is a major Gothic church whose principal construction dates from the 12th to 15th centuries.

Architectural highlights include the Gothic nave and choir and the adjacent Pey-Berland Tower, a 15th-century bell tower built beside the cathedral to protect the church from vibrations of the bells. The interior displays medieval stonework and stained glass associated with high medieval cathedral building.

The site has a long recorded history as a cathedral location; an earlier church on the site was significant in the medieval period and the present Gothic structure consolidated between the 12th and 15th centuries. The bell tower was added in the 15th century as a separate structure.

The cathedral stands on Place Pey-Berland in central Bordeaux, close to the city hall and other historic civic buildings. It is a focal point of Bordeaux’s historic center and is accessible on foot from the main urban arteries.

• UNESCO World Heritage: The cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the 'Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France' as one of the historic pilgrimage sites.

What to See #

• Pey-Berland Tower: A separate bell tower, the Pey-Berland Tower, stands adjacent to the cathedral; constructed in the 15th century it provides panoramic views across Bordeaux.
• Nave and choir: The cathedral's Gothic nave and choir are the primary interior spaces, featuring medieval stonework and stained glass that date mainly from the 12th to 15th centuries.
• Crypt: A crypt beneath the cathedral contains archaeological remains and earlier structural elements from the site's long religious history.