Saint
Louis Cathedral
615 Pere Antoine Alley
(504) 525-9585
A
breathtaking, architectural
structure, the Cathedral of Saint
Louis King of France, a minor
basilica, was established as a
Parish in 1720. It is now known as The
Saint Louis Cathedral, the
official seat for the Archdiocese
of New Orleans. It is located in
the French Quarter at Jackson Square.
The
Cathedral’s main isle, some 16-feet wide, of black and white
marble is the only thing remaining
from the original structure of
1720. The current structure was
dedicated December 7, 1851. Built
of wood and stucco, the cathedral
has three spires. The clock on the
cathedral’s middle spire serves
French Quarter residents and
visitors as the
"official" account of
the earth's rotation.
10
large stained-glass windows in
the church's sanctuary visually describe the life and
death of Louis IX, King of France,
who was later canonized as a saint
of the Catholic Church.
 The
remains of several Archbishops who
have served the Cathedral are
buried in the church. A highlight
of the Cathedral’s existence was
the visitation of Pope John Paul
II in September l987, when crowds
overflowed the huge church and the
surrounding area.
The
church also maintains an active school
which is located several blocks
away.
The
Cathedral has an annual waiting
list of anxious brides wishing to
use it for their
wedding. Weddings in New Orleans
are celebrated similar to nowhere else. A
visit to the Cathedral on Saturday
will also most assuredly get you a
peek at a beautiful bride with a flowing train leaving the doors of
the Cathedral to an awaiting
horse-drawn
carriage or a fleet of
limousines....either way, worth
the wait.
Daily,
visitors begin 10-15-minute
organized tours at the
altar, which is heavily ornate with
descriptive, life-like sculptures.
The altar and church were restored
in l987, along with the
installation of new lighting which
illuminates the altar with beauty beyond
words.
The Cathedral has a
tour office available year round.
Tours:
Seven
days a week
9
a.m. to 5 p.m.
(tours
are suspended during church
services
and
on Saturdays during wedding
services)
Fees:
Strictly donations
(recommended
50 cents per person for large groups)
-
By Jim Vance
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