Arras, FR

Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, (Vedast)

Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St Foster (Vedast) is one of the most impressive neo-classic 18th century buildings of western Europe. The cathedral was the abbey church of the Abbey of Saint Vaast still next to it today. The origins of the whole go back to the 7th century. The abbey was rebuilt in 1740 and the abbey church around 1760.

About this building

A remarkable building designed by the Parisian architect Contant d’Ivry, who used plans originally destined for the church of the Madeleine in Paris. Its particular luminosity is due to the white stone walls, and the vast grisaille glazed windows. Its high vaults are impressive, its architecture surprising, and the rows of columns which support the attic storey are majestic. During the 1914-1918 war it was almost completely destroyed and was rebuilt identically. On the other hand, the interior furnishing was re-designed in the Art Deco style by major artists of the renewal of Church Art in the 1930’s.

Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Monuments
  • Interior features
  • Links to national heritage

Visitors information

  • Bus stop within 100m
  • Steps to enter the building or churchyard
  • On street parking at the building
  • Café within 500m

Other nearby buildings

Arras Cathedral

The present cathedral is the former abbey church of the abbey of Saint-Vaast (whose origins date back to the 7th century). In the Middle Ages, Arras was the largest and richest city of Artois. It was built in the 18th century as the abbey church of Saint-Vaast Abbey and became a cathedral in 1848, replacing the old cathedral Notre-Dame-en-Cité d'Arras, the great Gothic cathedral in the west of the old town that had been destroyed during the French Revolution.

Saint-Vaast Old Abbey, Arras

The huge 18th century abbey church became the new cathedral of Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Vaast d'Arras in 1804. It replaced the old Gothic cathedral Notre-Dame-en-Cité in the west of the city which was destroyed, and since 1825 the vast monastery buildings of the abbey have housed the Arras Fine Arts Museum.

Saint-Géry Church, Arras

The church of Saint-Géry was built to replace the chapel of the Vivier, which served as a parish church but was becoming too small. It is the work of the architect Alexandre Grigny. It was partially destroyed during the First World War.

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