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Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis is home to one of the largest mosaic installations in the Western Hemisphere. The mosaic took 76 years to complete and contains 41.5 million glass tesserae pieces. The breathtaking pieces in the main cathedral were designed by August Oetken, including the famous depiction of the life of King Louis IX of France, for whom the church and city are named. Pope John Paul II officially designated it a basilica in 1997, but believers, historians, and art lovers from around the world have visited this cathedral since it held its first mass in 1914. In addition to its astonishing mosaic collection, the cathedral is also known for its crypts, museum, stained glass, and sculptures. See Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis and all Saint Louis has to offer by arranging your trip with our Saint Louis driving holiday planner.
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis reviews
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I've been fortunate enough to visit some of Europe's most spectacular cathedrals, so I will admit that when I saw the Cathedral Basilica recommended as a must while in St. Louis, I thought, "How...
I've been fortunate enough to visit some of Europe's most spectacular cathedrals, so I will admit that when I saw the Cathedral Basilica recommended as a must while in St. Louis, I thought, "How... more »
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dor & zac at the holiday inn suggested this stop and i am very glad that they did. the mosaics are the most beautiful i've ever seen. i would have liked to spend more time here and to attend mass..... more
dor & zac at the holiday inn suggested this stop and i am very glad that they did. the mosaics are the most beautiful i've ever seen. i would have liked to spend more time here and to attend mass..... more »
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This is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever visited, particularly in the United States. I rank it much above St. Patrick’s in NYC. The mosaics are breathtaking, containing over 41 million pieces of glass that were installed over 76 years by generations of the same family. I cannot recommend a visit to this great Catholic church highly enough, especially if you love art and architecture.
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Absolutely gorgeous, a must visit in St. Louis. Parking to visit the Basilica is plentiful along the street. And then when you approach from the outside you marvel at the presence of something so powerful and beautiful outside of Europe. Then as you open the massive and intricately carved entrance doors you are confronted by cacophony of color from the Byzantine style mosaic awash a sea of gold that can only be described as awe inspiring. The sheer scale and quality of the tile work could take a full day to appreciate. The high altar at the front of the army of pews gives you a sense of a building within a building, and is a prize for the eyes in itself. And then you turn and see the full Stained glass window blazing with color and understand you are in a special place no matter your religion. In the basement there is a small museum describing the creation of these mosaics along with other pieces of the basilica’s history. The silence pervading this place is not proscriptive, but natural feeling. A perfect place for reflection and quiet enjoyment.
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