Castres Cathedral, Cathedral in Castres, France.

Castres Cathedral is a large stone church with pale beige and grey walls. Its side elevation rises in stepped sections, with tall vertical buttresses topped by rounded stone finials. Lower side chapels project outward with sloped roofs, and small arched windows are set into the walls. A rounded arched opening sits on the right portion, and a red-and-white circular sign stands near the lower right corner.

The building originated as a Benedictine abbey but was later repurposed as a cathedral. After destruction during the Wars of Religion, it was extensively rebuilt with baroque design.

The name Saint-Benoît refers to Benedict of Aniane, who in 812 founded the Benedictine priory of Bellecelle on the Saint-Jean plateau; the monks became canons when the abbey church was made a cathedral in 1317. The chapter lived under the Rule of Saint Benedict until Pope Paul III secularised it in 1536. The bell tower, raised around 1100, also served as a watchtower.

Access to the building is provided through north and south doors with semicircular arches opening into the interior. It is advisable to check opening times before visiting, as the building is regularly used for religious services.

The bell tower is the only surviving remnant of the original Romanesque structure and was integrated into the new architecture during construction of the Palais Épiscopal around 1666. This incorporation demonstrates how the old and new sections were joined to create a unified whole.