Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Kulturgut in Bolivien

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, also known as the Templo de La Compañía de Jesús, stands in central Oruro. Its square stone bell tower carries arched openings, a white clock face with black hands and numerals, and a ribbed silver dome topped by a cross. To its right, the hall has a pale pinkish-red curved roof with a blue-green vent and a facade of tall yellow vertical slats above a wooden balcony. A dark cross stands before the tower.

The church was first built in 1606 as the Jesuit temple of La Compañía de Jesús. It was rebuilt after the collapse of the mining town of San Miguel de Oruro, and the present building was completed in 1739. It became a cathedral with the creation of the Diocese of Oruro in 1924, and it was declared a national monument.

The cathedral's other name, Templo de La Compañía de Jesús, recalls the Jesuit order that ran the church before the diocese was created in 1924 and the building became a cathedral. The patronal feast of the Assumption on 15 August draws dancers and musicians in costumes through the centre of Oruro.

The cathedral sits centrally on Adolfo Mier and La Plata streets and is easy to locate. The interior offers quiet moments for reflection, and it is best visited outside of services or during regular masses when the community gathers.

The bell tower's clock face, with black hands and numerals on a white circle, is crowned by a ribbed silver dome and cross, while a dark cross stands on the ground before the tower. The hall beside it has a pale pinkish-red curved roof with a blue-green vent on top, and a facade of tall yellow vertical slats above a wooden balcony.