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Origin and history

The cathedral Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Arnoux de Gap, dedicated to the Assumption and Saint Arnoux (bishop of the 11th century), is the seat of the bishopric of Gap and Embrun. Its construction, initiated by Bishop Bernadou, ran from 1866 to 1904 to replace a ruined medieval cathedral. The architect Charles Laisné adopted a neo-Gothic style, then in vogue, and incorporated elements inspired by the Embrun Cathedral and the Lombard style.

The cathedral was consecrated on September 21, 1895 by Bishop Berthet, and then listed as a historic monument in 1906. Its polychrome façade, composed of white, grey and pink stones, was restored in 2019 with the creation of a new parvis. The bell tower, 70 meters high, makes it the tallest building in Gap. The stained glass of the choir is made by Émile Hirsch, and the mosaics by Giandomenico Facchina.

The current organ, built by Jean Dunand in 1981, replaces a 1946 instrument. The cathedral also hosts controversial works, such as Paul Fryer's Pietà (2009), representing Christ in an electric chair. Since 2021, it has been served by priests of the Saint Martin Community.

The cathedral also served as the setting for the video Le Lac des Cygnes of the group Les Prêtres, composed of members of the diocese. Its spiritual and cultural role remains central in local life, between religious traditions and contemporary artistic debates.

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