The basilica | ©DXR / CC-BY-SAFamous French architect Viollet-le-Duc said this church is "a masterpiece built by a genius man".
Our Gothic basilica (which was a collegiate in the past) was raised in 1262 by pope Urban IV, Jacques Pantaléon, on the location of his father's shop, a cobbler.
Built in one go by architect Jean Langlois, Urban died before the end of the building site. So his nephew, cardinal Ancher de Saint-Praxède, decided to continue the construction, between 1264 and 1290.
That's as may be, but the top of the nave only dates back from the 19th century; in 1935, Urban IV last remains were buried in the church. We can see beautiful stained-glass windows (13th century) in the choir and the transept.