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Notre Dame de l'Assumption Cathedral of Senez dans les Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Notre Dame de l'Assumption Cathedral of Senez

    63 Rue de l'Ancienne Mairie
    04330 Senez
Sébastien Thébault

Timeline

Haut Moyen Âge
Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
600
700
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
Ve-VIe siècles
Foundation of the Diocese
mai 1176
Construction begins
22 octobre 1246
Consecration of the Cathedral
1569
Destruction by Protestants
1713
Reconstruction of the bell tower
1801
Abolition of the Diocese
26 octobre 1910
Historical monument classification
2009
Restoration of the head office
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Key figures

Marcel - First known bishop Participated in the Council of Arles in 506.
Pons - Bishop in the 12th century Start construction in 1176.
Guillaume III - Bishop in the 13th century Consecrate the cathedral in 1246.
Antoine de Mauvans - Protestant leader Destroyed the bell tower in 1569.
Jean III de Clausse de Monchy - Restoration Bishop (1561-1587) Restart work after 1569.
Napoléon Ier - Passing Emperor Admire tapestries in 1815.

Origin and history

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Senez, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, was the seat of the diocese of Senez from the 6th century. Bishop Marcel, first appointed, participated in the Council of Arles in 506. After war-related destruction (Lombards, Sarrasins, Francs), a Romanesque cathedral was rebuilt in the 12th to 13th centuries. Its construction began in 1176 under Bishop Pons, with a consecration in 1246 by William III.

The War of Religion ravaged the building in 1569: the Protestants of Antoine de Mauvans destroyed the bell tower, furniture and treasure. Bishop John III of Clausse de Monchy (1561-1587) began his restoration in 1572, followed by major repairs in 1684. The current bell tower dates from 1713. In 1790 it lost its cathedral status to become a parish church, before partial collapses in 1835 and reconstructions criticized in 1839.

Ranked a historic monument in 1910, the cathedral is renowned for its furniture: tapestries of Flanders and Aubusson (16th-17th centuries), 16th century stalls, and a sundial of 1673. Archaeological excavations since 2012 have revealed an occupation of the site since the fourth century. Today, it houses the seat of the titular bishop of Senez, restored in 2009.

External links