{{Infobox church | name = Embrun Cathedral | native_name = {{langx|fr|Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Embrun}}<br/>{{langx|fr|Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Réal}} | image = Haut_ND_embrun.jpg | pushpin_label_position = none | coordinates = {{coord|44|33|44|N|6|29|42|E|type:landmark_region:FR|display=inline,title}} | country = {{flag|France}} | location = Embrun, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | address = 9 rue de l'archevêché | denomination = Catholic | tradition = Roman Rite | website = {{URL|https://www.serreponcon.com/les-villages-de-serre-poncon/embrun/cathedrale-notre-dame-du-real/}} | dedication = Virgin Mary | status = Co-cathedral<br/>Cathedral (until 1790) | functional_status = active | architectural_type = church | style = Romanesque and Gothic | years_built = 1170–1225 | groundbreaking = 12th century | completed = 13th century | materials = Black schist, white limestone, marble | diocese = Gap and Embrun | embedded = {{Infobox designation list |embed=yes |designation1=Monument historique |designation1_offname=Église Notre-Dame (ancienne cathédrale) |designation1_type=classé |designation1_number=PA00080556 |designation1_date=1840 }} }} [[Image:Embrun-porche des lions tympan.jpg|thumb|The Tympanum of the northern side portal with the tetramorphed Evangelists and the central Christ in Majesty]] '''Embrun Cathedral''' ({{langx|fr|Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Réal d'Embrun}}) is a Roman Catholic church and former cathedral located in the town of Embrun, Hautes-Alpes, France.
The cathedral is a national monument and was the seat of the former Archbishopric of Embrun, which was divided between the Bishopric of Gap and the Archbishopric of Aix in 1822.
On its door were posted in 1489 the thirty-two propositions imputed to the Waldenses, that presaged the campaign to extirpate them as heretics, which resurfaced in the Dauphiné with intense savagery during the Wars of Religion in France: Lesdiguières pillaged Embrun Cathedral in 1585. This saw the destruction of a fresco on one of the porches, probably painted in the 13th century, representing the Three Wise Men visiting Mary and Jesus, which had been the object of a celebrated pilgrimage for many centuries and had given the cathedral its name ("réal" in this instance means "royal").<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Embrun|volume=9|page=314}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=La Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Réal|url=https://www.ville-embrun.fr/cathedrale-dame-real|website=www.ville-embrun.fr|access-date=2026-01-26|language=fr}}</ref>
thumb|The façade or west front In the fifth century relics of St Nazarius were translated to Embrun, which had supported a bishop since the fourth century; Embrun became a noted place of pilgrimage. Charlemagne erected the basilica that was visited by Pope Leo III.<ref>As well, at a later date by Henry II of France and Louis XVIII (''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', s.v. "Gap, diocese of").</ref>
The current cathedral church, built on foundations that date to its founding in the ninth century, was constructed between 1170 and 1225; its Romanesque portal, columns supported on crouching lions in the north portal<ref>"On the south side or at the west end shafts rest sometimes on the backs of crouching lions (Embrun) as in Italy." (Marcel Aubert and Simone Goubet, ''Romanesque cathedrals and abbeys of France''1966, p. 483.)</ref> and striped stonework express cultural links with Lombardy.<ref>"The Lombardic lateral portal of the cathedral of Embrun" is noted by Kenneth John Conant, ''Carolingian and Romanesque architecture, 800 to 1200'', 1993, p. 260.</ref> The striping was created by alternating courses of black schist and white limestone,<ref name=":0" /> while the crouching lions and their columns were executed in pink and green marbles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cathédrale Notre-Dame-du-Réal - Serre-Ponçon|url=https://www.serreponcon.com/les-villages-de-serre-poncon/embrun/cathedrale-notre-dame-du-real/|date=2025-03-02|access-date=2026-01-26|language=fr-FR}}</ref>
The interior has an elaborate Baroque high altar inlaid with colored marbles, recently rediscovered frescoes, and an organ (the oldest working in France<ref>Howard Goodall, 2000, Big Bangs, p. 92.</ref>) which was donated by Louis XI of France, who habitually sported in his cap a leaden emblem of the Virgin of Embrun<ref>''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', s.v. "Gap, diocese of".</ref> and whose last words were "Nôtre Dame d'Embrun, ma bonne maîtress, ayez pitié de moi."<ref>Reported, among others, by Augustus Hare, ''South-Eastern France'', 1890, p. 486.<!--a better ref. could be found--></ref>
== Notes == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web |title=Ancienne cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Embrun |language=fr |url=http://www.petit-patrimoine.com/fiche-petit-patrimoine.php?id_pp=05046_5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405030302/http://www.petit-patrimoine.com/fiche-petit-patrimoine.php?id_pp=05046_5 |archive-date=2023-04-05}}
{{Subject bar |portal1=Architecture |portal2=Arts |portal3=Engineering |commons=y |commons-search=Category:Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Embrun }} {{Authority control}}
Category:Former cathedrals in France Category:Buildings and structures in Hautes-Alpes Category:Churches in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur