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Origin and history

Notre-Dame de Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux Cathedral, located in the Drôme region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, is a jewel of Provencal Romanesque art. Started in the middle of the 12th century by the choir and completed around 1220, it embodies the architectural ambition of its time, mixing sobriety of ancient volumes and references. Its three-nave basilical plan, its cul-de-four apses, and its frieze decorations (grecques, oves, d'acanthe leaves) demonstrate an exceptional mastery of stone carving. Ranked among the first French historical monuments in 1840, it was the cathedral of the diocese until the Revolution, before becoming co-cathedral of Valencia.

The history of the cathedral is marked by distinct construction phases. A first episcopal group, perhaps located under the church of Saint John, would have been moved between the Carolingian period and the 11th century. The current construction, launched in the 12th century, coincides with the end of the ephemeral union of the dioceses of Saint Paul and d-Orange, explaining its scope. Major works continue around 1325-1350, while a Gothic southern porch is added in the 15th century. Inside, the 24-metre high nave, the 12th-century mosaics evoking Jerusalem, and an 18th-century organ (commanded by Bishop Louis d'Aube de Roquemartine) highlight its rich heritage.

The architecture of the cathedral draws its originality from the imitation of ancient forms, a rarity for the Romanesque era. The western facade, with its triangular pediment and canned columns, dialogue with Greek and Roman models. The bedside, sober but adorned with acanthal capitals and friezes from the inside, contrasts with the rich decoration of the gates. The task marks, visible on the stones, recall medieval craftsmanship. A symbol of episcopal power, the cathedral also illustrates the central role of the Church in the social and spiritual organization of Rhodanian Provence.

Ranked from the first list of historical monuments in 1840, the cathedral today embodies a religious, artistic and historical heritage. Its organ, inscribed as a monumental object, and its medieval mosaics make it a unique place of memory. The constant reference to antiquity, through elements such as pilasters or friezes, reveals a desire to legitimize ecclesiastical power through a prestigious architectural language. Its state of conservation and successive restorations make it possible to understand the evolution of techniques and tastes, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

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