EGLISE ST ETIENNE DE LA CITE Concerts

An imposing building with a cavernous and relatively plain interior - as far a churches go. Nice to visit but I assume the Cathedral Periguex gets all the glory, despite this bring the first in the city!

Wow, now THIS is a Church ! It is such a beautiful home for God. You can actually feel His presence. It's absolutely Perfect...I would not change a thing. "If these walls could talk..."

The tourism office of Perigueux has a map (in English) with two history walks. The ‘Gallo Romain’ walk includes the St. Etienne church. Though the parts of the present building date back to the 11th century, its fundaments go back to roman times, the building is situated within the wall build in a hurry as the roman empire collapsed. The building functioned as the first cathedral of Perigueux until the Protestants destroyed two of its cupolas and the bell tower in 1577. With the construction of the Saint Front cathedral, it lost its functions and the remnants became a cavalry training center. The design follows the ‘ecole du Perigord’ with its typical lines of cupolas. Other well known examples from Cahors, Souillac, Solignac and Angouleme, and of course the Saint Front cathedral of Perigueux. The western cupola retains its 11th century Romanesque integrity, whiles the eastern cupola was restored during the 17th century and given Gothic arches. Inside the church (it has since reclaimed its function) are a number of interesting relics. Interesting stop on the historical walk.

Ancient cathedral of Périgueux. Time did not spare him. A bay is missing at the front of the building. The paving on the ground allows us to grasp the initial size of the church. Some traces of arches and domes remain along the facade. Once inside, you feel small when faced with the prowess of the domes and the simplicity of this Romanesque church.

In exterior work, damage, but interior well restored 👌🏼