Da Lat Cathedral was designed by the French colonists and was constructed within nearly 12 years (1931-1942). With a height of 47 meters, the Cathedral is visible from any place in the Da Lat City.
Besides the name of Da Lat Cathedral, the local people have called it Cock Church since a cock was stuck on the top of its tower. The Cathedral is located on Tran Phu Street, near the Xuan Huong lake, Da Lat, Lam Dong province. The Cathedral is 65 meters long, 47 meters high and 14 meters wide, which make it the largest cathedral in Da Lat.
Like Hanoi and Saigon Cathedral, the gate of Da Lat Cathedral holds a statue of the Virgin Mary. However, the statue is on the outer side of the gate. The Cathedral was constructed on July 19, 1931. Originally, it was built for French colonial residents. Father Nicolas and Catholic priests of Da Lat raised money for the construction.
A statue of the Virgin Mary at the gate of the Cathedral
Da Lat Cathedral’s design follows the style of Roman Church in Europe. There are 3 sections, one big room in the middle and 2 smaller ones on the two sides. The stained glass windows take the arch shape. On the top is the roof, covered by tiles. The walls, which are made up of rocks, are about 40 centimeters in thickness. Within these walls, the rooms are decorated with exquisite statues and the outside are painted with pink.
Located in a beautiful position, the church is a famous place for not only worshipers but tourists as well, especially in Christmas time.