Eglise Saint-Gimer (Saint-Gimer Church), Carcassonne

Saint Gimer was bishop of Carcassonne from 902 to 931. Gimer got his start by cornering the miracle bread business at an early age. He would purloin the bread his mother made, sell it, and give the sale proceeds to the poor. The miracle was that no matter how much bread he took from her, she always had the same amount of bread. A boy this good is destined to become a saint or even a bishop.

The Gothic Church of Saint-Gimer reflects the vision of its famous architect, Eugene Viollet-le-Duc. He married Northern Gothic style with the southern style. "Gothic architecture has all the advantages,..." He said, "...at once national, rational, and logical." The church has a nave and two aisles and a polygonal apse stationed on two vestries, all preceded by a porch. Le-Duc was active in the restoration three churches in the city.

His vision for Saint-Gimer was a simple parish church in his neo-Gothic style. Saint Gimer has been classified, like the town of Carcassonne, as protected in UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites.