The UNESCO-listed Basilica of Saint-Sernin is one of the most important and magnificent churches on the "Chemin Saint Jacques" medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Built in the 11th to 13th centuries, this impressive basilica ranks as the largest Romanesque church in Europe still in existence. Constructed from the red bricks typical of Toulouse, the Basilica has a five-aisled nave and three-aisled transept in the Romanesque style. The church is dedicated to Saint Saturninus, the first bishop of Toulouse who was martyred in the year 250. Every year on the 29th of September, the Fête de Saint Saturnin is celebrated with a Mass at the saint's tomb in the basilica and a procession of the saint's relics. The Basilica's facade is adorned with a magnificent doorway and intricate sculptures such as King David and the Apostles. The grandiose barrel-vaulted sanctuary reveals a somber and serene ambience typical of Romanesque churches. Highlights of the interior include hundreds of richly carved Romanesque capitals and the elegant central apse surrounded by chapels. The crypt contains numerous precious relics. A treasure of this collection is a reliquary that houses a relic of the True Cross. The Basilica's six-story clock tower has an octagonal shape commonly found in churches of the Languedoc region #Español
No comments yet