St. Joseph's Proto Cathedral

Listed as a national landmark by the U.S. Library of Congress, this was the first Catholic cathedral located west of the Allegheny Mountains when its cornerstone was laid in 1816. Louis Phillipe, later the King of France, is said to have lived in Bardstown during his exile and later donated a collection of 17th-century paintings. These paintings, along with gifts from Pope Leo XII and other European nobles, adorn the cathedral walls.

St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral complex, which includes Spalding Hall and Flaget Hall of what was originally St. Joseph College, is on the National Historic Register. Recorded historical self-guiding tours are offered, and guides are available April through the end of October; formal tours by reservation only November through March 31. Large groups are asked to reserve in advance. Open daily.

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