The see was not restored after the French Revolution and its parishes were added to the Diocese of Montpellier by the Concordat of 1801.

The present building was constructed in the 12th century, beginning in 1173 under the direction of bishop William II of Agde, replacing a 9th century Carolingian church that had stood on the foundations of a 5th-century Roman church, which stood on the site of a temple of Diana.

The cathedral is remarkable for being built of black basalt from the nearby volcanic Mont St. Loup quarries.

Many of the materials, such as the capitals and the columns, were shortly afterwards reused for the construction of the lady chapel, which is now used as the entrance.

The 17th century high altar is made of polychromatic marble, which stands out against the austere setting of the cathedral's interior, as does the organ's Baroque architectural style.