Gap Cathedral
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.
| Gap Cathedral Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Arnoux de Gap | |
|---|---|
 Gap Cathedral | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Bishop of Gap |
| Region | Hautes-Alpes |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Gap,  France |
| Geographic coordinates | |
| Architecture | |
| Type | church |
| Style | Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 19th century |
| Completed | 20th century |
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
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 somber and harmonious feeling at the same time.
The clock tower stands at 64 meters high and contains four clocks.
Consecrated on September 2nd, 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 a Historical Monument on August 9th, 1906.
