Notre-Dame du Bourg, Romanesque cathedral in Digne-les-Bains, France.
Notre-Dame du Bourg is a Romanesque church in Digne-les-Bains with a single nave divided into four large bays and walls built from local schist stone. The structure follows Provençal Romanesque principles and contains an underground crypt displaying artifacts from the Roman period.
The church was built between the late 12th and early 13th centuries on the remains of a 6th-century basilica. The structure received official historical monument status in 1840.
The interior holds a contemporary liturgical ensemble created by artist David Rabinowitch that merges modern artworks with the medieval stone walls. This blend demonstrates how sacred spaces continue to evolve and welcome new forms of expression today.
Guided tours are available by reservation, so plan ahead if you want to explore the interior thoroughly. The underground crypt requires a bit of time to visit, so allow sufficient time for your exploration.
The building stands on a former pagan necropolis, with successive Christian structures documented through archaeological excavations from 1983 to 1993. These layers reveal how multiple faiths occupied this same location throughout different periods.
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