Collegiate Church of Saint-Etienne of Capestang

The collegiate church of Saint-Etienne in Capestang was built in the thirteenth century in a perfect Gothic style onto an old Romanesque church, probably by the same team that built the Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur de Narbonne cathedral. The building was classified as a historic monument in 1906.

The construction was built on the eleventh century Saint-Félix church, of which the west wall remains. The building work took place from the thirteenth century until the beginning of the fourteenth century and little by little, this work caused the destruction of the Romanesque building. Only a few ruins of this still remain. It should be noted that twenty metres of this church are missing, of which only the choir and the first two spans are finished with their chapels. The height of the vaults of the completed part still reaches 26,50 m and the bell tower stands above the village 45 metres high.

Guided tour of the Collegiate Church of Saint-Etienne in Capestang
Guided tour of the Collegiate Church of Saint-Etienne in Capestang
In the Saint-Étienne collegiate church of Capestang
In the Saint-Étienne collegiate church of Capestang

In the center of the choir, you will see a keystone dedicated to Saint Etienne and the arms of the city: an eagle and a lion, arms which are also found in the center of the small rose window. Inside, the vault reaches an impressive height of almost 27 metres. The stained glass windows, dating from the second half of the nineteenth century, were produced by master glassmaker Monvernay's workshop. An eighteenth century Baroque altar in Caunes Minervois marble, a baluster and neo-Gothic stalls from the nineteenth century make this collegiate church very special.

Collegiate Church of Saint-Etienne de Capestang

But the great plague epidemic of the sixteenth century and the lack of funds marked the end of the road for this huge project which should have been one of the largest buildings in the region.

Various styles and periods of construction with a Romanesque part, a choir and a Gothic apse, modifications and elements added over the centuries, up until the nineteenth century, make this place a remarkable curiosity, accentuated by its unfinished appearance. This Gothic monument is really one-of-a-kind thanks to its dimensions and the absence of a nave.

It is precisely thanks to its appearance that this building is so popular with visitors! You must absolutely come and admire the magnificent panoramic view over the foothills of the Cévennes, the Pyrenees and Mont Canigou, the Montady swamp and the Oppidum d'Ensérune from the top of the bell tower!

The collegiate church of Saint Etienne can be seen from a distance, its distinctive silhouette is a "landmark" for the village of Capestang. Do not hesitate to ask at the Tourist Office about a guided tour. It will be an unforgettable experience.