Lisieux Cathedral

About this place

Lisieux Cathedral is a Catholic church located in Lisieux, France. The cathedral was the seat of the Bishop of Lisieux until the diocese of Lisieux was abolished under the Concordat of 1801 and merged into the Diocese of Bayeux. An earlier cathedral is presumed to have existed since the 6th century, as there was a Bishop of Lisieux from that time, but not much is known of the earlier edifice. A previous cathedral built in the Romanesque style was burned by Geoffrey of Anjou in 1136. Its pre-nave layout has been maintained. Bishop Arnulf was at first only able to do essential repairs before he started the requisite full rebuilding in 1160. As you explore, compare the building itself with its decoration and later additions. Differences in materials, forms and imagery can reveal successive periods of patronage, making the visit a way to understand how religious places evolved over time.