Église Saint-Barthélemy de Cahors, Catholic church in Cahors, France

Saint-Barthélemy Church is a Catholic place of worship in the town of Cahors, with walls from the 12th century still standing. The building shows a tall square bell tower at the entrance, a carved stone facade, and high vaulted ceilings with pointed arches inside, alongside wooden fittings and paintings from several periods.

The church was first known under the name of Saint-Étienne, but from the early 14th century people began calling it Saint-Barthélemy. By 1320 the building was in poor condition, and Pope John XXII, who had been baptized there, encouraged its rebuilding, with work on the vaults continuing into the 1400s.

Local religious services still take place here, and the parish community uses the space for regular gatherings throughout the year. Walking through, visitors can feel how the building has remained a working place of prayer rather than a museum, with the organ and pulpit used during ceremonies.

The building sits a short walk from the train station, with bus stops in the nearby streets, making it an easy stop while exploring the town center. Inside, the floor is even and well lit, so visitors can move around without difficulty and take time to look at the walls, windows, and carved details.

A carved wooden pulpit made in 1663 by local craftsman Bertrand Rouzières still stands inside and often goes unnoticed among the older stone elements. The church also houses a modern pipe organ from 2018, whose mechanical blower and two large pedals contrast sharply with the medieval walls around it.