Narbonne Cathedral Church

Narbonne Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of Saints Justus and Pastor, is a Gothic cathedral in Narbonne in the Occitania region of southern France. Construction of the present cathedral began in the late 13th century and the building is notable for its ambitious Gothic scale and unfinished aspects.

The interior and surviving fabric display high Gothic masonry and elevations that were intended to create a very large cathedral. Visitors see a long choir area and soaring stone vaulting, alongside chapels and medieval liturgical fittings.

Work on the cathedral began in the late 1200s on the site of earlier episcopal buildings; construction progressed through the Middle Ages but was never completed to the original plan, leaving parts of the structure truncated. It has served as the seat of the local bishopric and as a focal church for the city since its medieval construction.

The cathedral stands in the historic centre of Narbonne, close to the Canal de la Robine and the city’s medieval streets.

Narbonne Cathedral sits in the historic centre of Narbonne. From Gare de Narbonne (the city’s main railway station) it is an easy 10-15 minute walk through the old town to the cathedral - follow signs into the pedestrianised centre (Rue Droite / Place de l’Hôtel de Ville). If arriving by car, the cathedral is reached via the D6009/D600 route through the city; parking is available on nearby streets and public car parks.

• Visit early in the morning before the city centre gets busy - the cathedral's quiet interior and lighting are best then for viewing its Gothic proportions and stained glass.
• Make time to see the nearby Roman Horreum (underground warehouses) and the medieval episcopal precinct; many visitors see the cathedral from the street but miss these important adjacent archaeological sites.