Histoire du monument

© Éric Sander / Centre des monuments nationaux

A masterpiece of flamboyant Gothic architecture at the heart of Bayonne’s old town.

The cloister is a covered gallery opening onto a green space. The ensemble adjoins the Cathedral of Saint Mary and affords clear views of its spires.

History

Built between the 13th and 14th centuries, then remodelled in the late 19th century, the cloister of Bayonne Cathedral is one of the largest in France.

It formed an important part of the city’s everyday life from its construction, used as a meeting place for the town council and inhabitants, and a forum for market holders. The engraved headstones and crypts along the gallery walls also serve as a reminder that the cloister of Bayonne was once a cemetery.