Nîmes Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Nîmes Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Nîmes
, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the local saint Castor of Apt
.
It was the seat of the Bishops of Nîmes until 1877, when the name of the diocese was changed, and is still the seat of their successors the Bishops of Nîmes, Uzès and Alès.
The cathedral is believed to stand on the site of the former temple of Augustus
. It is partly Romanesque
and partly Gothic
in style.
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the local saint Castor of Apt
Castor of Apt
Saint Castor of Apt was a bishop of Apt, in Gaul.He was born in Nîmes and may have been the brother of Saint Leontius of Fréjus. Castor was a lawyer and married to a wealthy widow. He lived in Marseilles. His wife, however, allowed him to enter the religious life; she herself entered a nunnery....
.
It was the seat of the Bishops of Nîmes until 1877, when the name of the diocese was changed, and is still the seat of their successors the Bishops of Nîmes, Uzès and Alès.
The cathedral is believed to stand on the site of the former temple of Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
. It is partly Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
and partly Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
in style.
