Visit one of the most astounding religious buildings in San Sebastián and one of the biggest of its kind in the province of Gipuzkoa.
The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (Catedral del Buen Pastor de San Sebastián) is a famous church in San Sebastián in the north of Spain. Within the Basque Country (Pais Vasco) it is known as Artzain Onaren katedrala. See this amazing neo-Gothic religious construction built in the late 19th century. Marvel at its picturesque spires and the many intricate details of its interior.
The foundation stone of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd was laid by the Spanish royal family in the year 1888. The acts of this ceremony were signed by King Alfonso XIII, who was then only 2 years old. This was his first ever official signature as a monarch. The Donostiarra architect (Donostiarra means native of San Sebastián) Manuel de Echave was chosen to supervise the construction of the cathedral, which took 9 years to complete. The church was consecrated in 1897. In 1953, it was given the rank of cathedral. Discover a building with a beautiful façade, tall towers and large rose windows. Wander inside the church to see its Latin cross and impressive naves.
The stained glass of the Catedral del Buen Pastor was designed by Juan Bautista Lázaro de Diego, a renowned Spanish architect specializing in stained-glass windows. Marvel at the delicate and exquisite figures represented in the cathedral’s windows, including Jesus, Mary and the 12 Apostles. Find the organ, installed in the church in 1954. At the time, it was one of the largest organs in Spain and Europe. Admire this amazing instrument, which has a total of 9,535 pipes, the largest one of which is about 33 feet (10 meters) high. See the main chapel, with a sculpture of the Good Shepherd by Josep Llimona i Bruguera, an artist from Barcelona considered one of the main protagonists of Catalan modernism.
While you are in San Sebastián, make sure you visit the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and discover one of the most famous sites in this charming Spanish city.
