Anglais

Imposing and fortified, the church of Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Celse dominates the city and remains the symbol of Beziers.

It retains the status of "cathedral" even though there has not been a Bishop since the Revolution.

The first building on the site was a Roman Temple. This was replaced by Romanesque church under work of Master Gervais, which was destroyed in 1209 when Béziers was taken during the Albigensian Crusade.

The current building was built after a Roman temple and then a Romanesque church,  work of Master Gervais, which was destroyed in 1209 when Béziers was taken during the Albigensian Crusade.

The reconstruction of the cathedral began in 1215. Gothic vaults were built over the ruins of the Romanesque walls, giving rise to an imposing building: 14m wide, 50m long, and a transept 33m wide.

A choir, also sometimes called ‘quire’, with nine windows was created to the east, and to the west a very defensive styled facade, with two towers linked by a machicolation and two round crenelated watchtowers. A square bell tower 48m high, finished in the 15th century with a sacristy added at the same time, complete the building.

Above the entrance door, the wooden lintel evokes the martyrdom of Nazarius and his disciple Celsus.