Basilica Saint Sernin

This monster started out as a modest basilica in the 5th century and was built in honour of a martyr saint Saturnin, first bishop and martyr of Toulouse. In 250 he died after being dragged through the streets by a sacrificial bull.
They really went all out in the old days.
The exceptional popularity of St Saturnin contributed to an influx of pilgrims and the community of canons responsible for keeping his relics were obliged to make grand plans to provide a better stopping place for these pilgrims, who were on their pilgrimage to Compostela.
 So in the 11th century the present basilica was built, and building works continued throughout the 12th century, and on until the 16th century. Initially the masons used brick and stone, but the high price of stone forced to use brick alone. Nothing changes...
They built a magnificent cloister and a large abbey, which were all sadly razed to the ground at the beginning of the 19th century.
Towards the middle of the 19th century architect Viollet-le-Duc started a long series of restoration works (see later post of Carcassonne) which were taken over by the department for Historic Monuments between 1968 and 1998.


And so we are left with the present basilica St Sernin, (the name which is an Occitan adaptation of Saturnin). It is the biggest Romanesque church in the world still standing and it is stunningly beautiful with its combination of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

 

I believe this next photo is the original altar consecrated by Pope Urbain II in 1096. Just to touch it gives you goose bumps......

 

 

See, it's not all about food....