Mende - Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Privat

The city of Mende (pop. ~ 12000) is situated in the high valley of the Lot, within the area of the "Grands Causses" (limestone plateaus). One of these plateaus is the "Mont Mimat".

The historic city center is all around the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Privat. A church existed here already in Merovingian times. The cathedral is actually the fourth church on this spot. Pope Urban V, who was born in the Lozere, strongly supported the erection of this cathedral, that started mid 14th century, when Pope Urban V resided in Avignon. The construction was near completion, when a fire destroyed the cathedral. Then Pierre Morel, who had worked in Chaise-Dieu, took over the construction site. The death of Urban V in 1370 interrupted the work for about for more than 60 years. The main altar was consecrated in 1467.

The cathedral has two different bell-towers. The higher one (84m) was paid for by the Bishop, the lower one (65m) by the Canons.

During the Wars of Religions Mende was conquered (on Christmas 1579) by huguenot troops led by Matthieu Merle. As the troops needed ammunition, the melted down all bells of the cathedral below the bells was "Non-Pareille", the largest bell in Christendom at that time. In 1581 Merle was back in Mende again. He ransomed the population to collect 4000 Ecu and swore to destroy the cathedral in case the people could not raise the money. As the people were unable to raise the sum, he carried out his threat with great efforts. The pillars of the nave were weakend and then huge fires were started inside the nave so the ceiling collapsed.

The cathedral was rebuilt from 1599 to 1605. Around 1620 new stained glass windows were installed. They got destroyed in the turmoil of The French Revolution, when the smaller tower was used as a prison.

Major rebuildings and renovations started in 1840, when the cathedral got on the list of historic monuments.

The cathedral is the home of "Notre-Dame de Mende", a "Black Virgin". Legends tell that she was brought to Mende between 1212 and 1222 by bishop and crusader Guillaume de Peyre. She is first mentioned in 1249. Originally she was covered by a silver gilt and hold Jesus on her lap. During the Wars of Religions, the Protestant troops intended to burn her, but she was saved by courageous church ladies. At that time she had already lost baby Jesus and her hands.