Gap Cathedral

Coordinates: 44°33′29″N 6°4′41″E / 44.55806°N 6.07806°E / 44.55806; 6.07806
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Gap Cathedral
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Arnoux de Gap
Gap Cathedral
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
ProvinceBishop of Gap
RegionHautes-Alpes
RiteRoman Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusCathedral
StatusActive
Location
LocationGap, France
Geographic coordinates44°33′29″N 6°4′41″E / 44.55806°N 6.07806°E / 44.55806; 6.07806
Architecture
Typechurch
StyleByzantine, Romanesque, Gothic
Groundbreaking19th century
Completed20th century

Gap Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Arnoux de Gap) is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Gap, Hautes-Alpes, France. It is a national monument, and is the seat of the Bishop of Gap and Embrun.

The current cathedral was built between 1866 and 1905 in Neo-Gothic style by architect Charles Laisné on the site of a former mediaeval cathedral.

History[edit]

Gap Cathedral interior: organ

The original cathedral on the site was built around the 5th century on the ruins of a Roman temple to the God Apollo. Over the years several buildings stood at the same spot. Forty-one different types of stone were chosen for the construction, showing Byzantine influence. Roman and Gothic styles were also chosen, as was common during this era for a sombre and harmonious feeling at the same time.

The clock tower stands at 64 meters high and contains four clocks.

Consecrated on September 2, 1895, the day of Saint-Arnoux, who was Bishop of Gap during the 11th century and is the patron saint of the Gap. The cathedral was classified as an Historical Monument on August 9, 1906.

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