Saint-André Cathedral and the Pey-Berland Tower
Bordeaux's largest church, consecrated at the end of the 11th century, with its separate bell tower, the Pey-Berland Tower.
History
Saint-André Cathedral was consecrated on 1 May 1096 by Pope Urban II, then touring France to preach the First Crusade. The Romanesque building was later rebuilt in Gothic style from the 12th to the 16th century. Two royal weddings took place here: that of Eleanor of Aquitaine and the future Louis VII in 1137, and that of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria in 1615. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998 as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela, the cathedral has its own freestanding bell tower, the Pey-Berland Tower, built between 1440 and 1500 apart from the main building so as not to weaken its vaults with the vibration of the bells. 66 metres high, it is climbed by a 233-step spiral staircase to a terrace some 50 metres up.
What to see there
- The Gothic nave and the north portal, with its carved tympanum
- The Pey-Berland Tower, standing apart and topped with a gilded statue of the Virgin
- The view from the tower terrace (paid admission)
- The chevet and its radiating chapels
Our tip
Climb the Pey-Berland Tower in the late afternoon, before the last admission (times on the Centre des monuments nationaux website): the view stretches across the rooftops to the Saint-Michel spire.
On our walks
- The historic heart — 2h30 · 5.0 km
Nearby addresses
- Atelier des Faures — 15 rue des Frères Bonie — Creative cuisine in a refined setting. Short menu that changes often. Our favourite. 📍
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