Agde Cathedral

The Cathedral Saint-Étienne in Agde, France, a Roman Catholic church on the bank of the River Hérault, stands on a site with a long history. Originally, the site hosted a temple of Diana, followed by a 5th-century Roman church, a 9th-century Carolingian church, and the current cathedral built in the 12th century. The cathedral was constructed of black basalt from nearby volcanic Mont St. Loup quarries, and its walls are between 2 and 3 metres thick.

The square tower, at 35 metres high, could function as a keep. Declared a monument historique in 1840, the Romanesque cloister that once adjoined the cathedral was demolished in 1857. The 17th-century high altar, made of polychromatic marble, and the organ with its Baroque architectural style contrast with the cathedral's austere interior.

Of the cathedral's five bells, four are hung in the belltower and were cast by Burdin-Aîné of Lyon in 1894 and 1895. The fifth bell sits on top of the belltower for chiming the clock; it was cast in 1665 by Damiac Fulcrand at Béziers and declared a monument historique in 1959.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons