Exterior view

Rebuilding of an old church was started in 1276 but it was halted due to the Hundred Years War and restarted only in the early 15th century. After the fire of 1510, it was rebuilt in 1513-1526. The cathedral was completed around 1531 in Gothic style.

In 1544 Philander was given charge of the structure of the cathedral and about 1562 added to it the remarkable gable of the west front. Here we see clearly Philander’s strength and weakness; for he has simply planted a complete Roman church front on top of a tall plain Gothic fa�ade. In its detail the design is remarkably pure and rather advanced for its date, even on Italian standards. But in its context it is preposterous. All sense of scale and appropriateness seems to have deserted Philander.

The photo shows the west front of the cathedral which once formed part of the city wall of Rodez.