Saint Joseph's Cathedral

Saint Joseph's stands on the hill above central Nouméa, built between 1887 and 1897 in stone with twin towers, and much of the labour was supplied by convicts from the penal colony that New Caledonia was for the second half of the nineteenth century. The interior has a carved pulpit and stained glass, and the terrace outside gives a view over the town and the harbour. It remains the cathedral of the Nouméa archdiocese. Its position on the ridge means the towers are visible from most of the harbour, which is exactly what the builders intended when they chose the site.

What you actually see

• The twin towers - the stone front of the 1890s building above the town.
• The carved pulpit - the woodwork inside the nave.
• The stained glass - the windows through the aisles and sanctuary.
• The terrace view - the town and harbour seen from outside the west front.

When to go

Year round; the cathedral keeps daytime hours. Mass times restrict visiting. Mornings are cooler for the walk up.

Honest expectations

The walk up from the market is steep. The interior is sometimes locked outside service hours. Half an hour covers it.

Nearby

Port Moselle Market is downhill, and the waterfront is beyond it.