A sumptuous cathedral in the heart of the city
The Romanesque church of Saint-Jean-le-Vieux had become too small, and the construction of a new edifice was initiated by Sanç de Majorque in 1324. It is mostly built of brick and pebbles, with limestone or red sandstone in places. The fall of the kingdom of Majorca in 1344, the Black Death and a lack of funds meant that work was suspended until the early 15th century.
The original three-aisle plan was abandoned: the Mallorcan architect Guillem Sagrera, who designed Palma de Mallorca Cathedral, opted for a single, large Gothic nave. Work was completed in 1509, but the building did not receive the title of cathedral until 1602. The clock tower and its wrought-iron campanile were erected between 1737 and 1743. The statue of Saint John the Baptist surmounting the porch was created by Guy-Charles Revol in 1952.
The cathedral houses an 11th-century white marble baptismal font, the tomb of Bishop Louis Habert de Montmort, and neo-Gothic stained-glass windows created between 1847 and 1867. The passage beneath the organ leads to the recumbent tomb of King Sanche of Majorca.
Exceptional concerts throughout the year
For 36 years, the Perpignan Sacred Music Festival has been inviting the public to discover the most beautiful pages of Sacred Music. It's one of Perpignan's major highlights. The cathedral is one of the venues hosting concerts during the festival.
Every summer since 2003, the Perpignan International Carillon Festival has been showcasing the oldest of the great French carillons. The aim is to showcase the carillon as a musical instrument in its own right, and to invite French and international carillonneurs to perform top-quality concerts. Here are the ingredients to make this event unique in the South of France.
In 2022, for the first time, the cathedral hosted Candlelight. It's a magical candlelit musical experience. The perfect opportunity to rediscover Vivaldi's Four Seasons performed by a string quartet.
Don't miss the Campo Santo!
The Campo Santo is a cemetery cloister unique in Europe! The cloister cemetery of Saint-Jean, known as "Campo Santo" since its restoration, was built in the first third of the 14th century. The cloister galleries were covered by a wooden lean-to supported by columns with carved capitals.
At the far end of the Campo Santo, you'll find the Funeral Chapel with its stained-glass windows by American artist Shirley Jaffé.
DISCOVER THE CATHEDRAL AND CAMPO SANTO IN PERPIGNAN 3D APPLICATION
Explore these two buildings in the red itinerary: the Saint-Jean district. You can discover augmented reality content at points 3, 4 and 5. We won't go into all the details, but you can download the app via the dedicated platforms below.
