Vienne Cathedral, Medieval Roman Catholic cathedral in Vienne, France
Vienne Cathedral is a Romanesque Catholic cathedral in the town center of Vienne, in southeastern France. It has three naves, an apse, and a heavy stone west facade, and it sits on a raised terrace that gives it a clear presence over the surrounding streets.
Construction began in 1130 and continued across several generations before Pope Innocent IV consecrated the building in 1251. The long building process left behind different phases that can be read in the structure today.
The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Maurice, a Christian soldier said to have been martyred in the region in the 3rd century. His name and image appear in stone carvings on the walls and portals, which visitors can observe as they walk through the building.
The cathedral is in the heart of Vienne's old town and easy to reach on foot from most of the town's other points of interest. Weekdays tend to be quieter and offer a more comfortable visit than weekends when tour groups arrive.
In 1311, the Council of Vienne gathered here under Pope Clement V and voted to dissolve the Knights Templar. That decision, taken inside these walls, changed the balance of power across medieval Europe.
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