Guided tour of the archaeological basement of the Cathedral

Name: Guided tour of the archaeological basement of the Cathedral
Start: 2023-09-16T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2023-09-16T18:15:00+02:00
Location: Cathédrale Sainte-Croix

During the installation of the cathedral heater in 1890, remains of a pre-Romanesque building were discovered under the transept and the current choir of the cathedral. Archeological excavations…

Saturday 16 September 2023, 10:00, 11:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30Passed

Conditions

Registration: at the Tourist Office until Friday 15 September then registration the same day at the City of Art and History booth in the Cathedral if there are any seats left. Attention: Disabled person: stairs.

Sous-sol de la cathédrale © Mairie d’Orléans

During the installation of the cathedral’s heating system in 1890, remains of a pre-Romanesque building were discovered under the cathedral’s transept and current choir. Archaeological excavations from 1937 to 1942 revealed the apse of the Romanesque building built after the terrible fire of 989, remains of a Carolingian mosaic and Gallo-Roman (4th century) buildings. The sarcophagi of ancient bishops, from the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries were discovered thus revealing priestly objects and reliquaries today in the treasury of the cathedral. Discover the remains of the first buildings erected on the site of the Cathedral.
Tour led by a tour guide from the Ville d'art et d'histoire – Orléans City Hall.
Group limited to 10 people. For safety reasons, children under the age of 15 are not allowed.

About the location

Cathédrale Sainte-Croix

Place Sainte-Croix, 45000 Orléans

Loiret
Centre-Val de Loire

The shape of the cathedral that we now know is due to the restorations launched under Henry IV and continued by his successors, in a Gothic style. But, from the remains of the primitive church of the 7th century to the contemporary stained glass windows of Pierre Carron, all centuries and all styles have come to enrich the building as its construction and its incessant reconstructions and restorations.