Perched on Puy Saint-Front hill in Périgueux, the town's first church was constructed between 500-536. Sadly, it was razed by the Normans around 845, but was later rebuilt as an abbey in 1047.
As the number of pilgrims flocking to Saint-Front's tomb grew, an additional domed church was built in the 11th century. Tragically, in 1120, an accidental fire devastated the surrounding houses, the old church, and a significant part of the abbey.
However, a "new" church was erected, spacious enough to accommodate worshippers. Its Greek cross design allowed visitors to easily marvel at and pray near the relics of Saint Front, the Périgord evangelist. This period marked the pinnacle of grandeur for this holy structure, turning the town into a renowned pilgrimage site and bringing prosperity to merchants benefiting from the influx of visitors.
The prosperous era came to a sorrowful end in the 16th century during the Religion Wars. Protestant forces from Bergerac besieged Périgueux in 1575, leading to the pillaging of Saint-Front's relics, the cherished Catholic treasure of the town. When Périgueux was liberated in 1581, the cathedral suffered severe damage and endured decades without proper maintenance. In the 18th century, Bishop Macheco de Prémeaux made an impactful contribution to the cathedral's history by protecting the domes from water damage with new roofing.
Despite its dire condition, architect Paul Abadie undertook an extensive restoration project in 1852 to rescue the cathedral. Stone by stone, he revived the structure, a monumental task that spanned roughly fifty years. Abadie faithfully maintained the cathedral's original plan and dimensions, creating a harmonious architectural masterpiece. Notably, this same design was later replicated by Abadie in the Sacré Coeur church in Paris.
