Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Lubumbashi, Catholic cathedral in Makutano, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral is a Romanesque Revival brick church between Kapenda and Kasa-Vubu avenues, with a square bell tower on the left and a baptistery on the right. Its interior has a central nave separated from side aisles by arcades, leading to a raised high altar in front of a copper panel representing Katanga's mining past. Above it hangs a monumental crucifix carved by a local artist.
The cathedral was built during Belgian colonial rule when Lubumbashi, then called Élisabethville, grew as a mining center around 1910. It became a significant religious center for the region over the following decades.
The copper panel behind the raised high altar recalls Katanga's mining past, and above it hangs a monumental crucifix carved by a local artist, bringing Congolese craft into the interior. The Sainte-Lucie and Sainte-Marthe stained-glass windows and the bourdon bell were given by Jean Deschacht for the marriage of his daughter Marie Louise to Dr Paul Brutsaert on 1 October 1929.
The cathedral is accessible by local transportation, and guided tours are available in French and Swahili during regular opening hours. It helps to check visit times in advance since they may change due to religious services or events.
The high altar stands before a copper panel that recalls Katanga's mining past, and above it hangs a monumental crucifix carved by a local artist. The Sainte-Lucie and Sainte-Marthe stained-glass windows and the bourdon bell were given by Jean Deschacht for the marriage of his daughter Marie Louise to Dr Paul Brutsaert on 1 October 1929.
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