Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-L-'Assomption

During the stricter lockdown period, on a couple of our walks we took nearly the full hour allowed to walk around. The red mark shows our temporary apartment. I leave it to you to find the Cathedrale on the map. 

This location makes it difficult to take photos. It is surrounded by other buildings.

Backstory. A bishop had a cathedral built here in ~450. By 761, the first cathedral was destroyed by a raid led by Pepin le Bref against the Duke of Aquitane. It was rebuilt. In 946 the current bishop dedicated a new cathedral. In about 1000, a crypt was dug ( only to be filled in the 13th C. and then refitted in the 19th C. 

In 1248, the construction on this gothic cathedral was initiated on a hill in the center of town. Most of the current building dates from the 2nd half of the 13th C. Work stopped in 1350 for a period of 500 years due to impoverishment due to the Hundred Years War and the Great Plague. A visit by Napolean II in 1862 apparently prompted a revived construction period. The grand staircase dates from 1902. The west facade and other renovations were done in the second half of the 19th c. This is the first example of architecture using volvic stone- volcanic rock. That's why it's all grey- black. 

Sadly, the stained glass windows are covered with a metal grate probably to protect from vandalism. We hope to see the inside at some point. From the outside it is impressive.