Sisteron Cathedral

Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers is a Romanesque cathedral in Provence with three naves and barrel vaults built by Lombard craftsmen starting in the 1160s. The building features a dome resting on squinches at the choir entrance and three round windows set into its western front.

Work on the cathedral started around 1160 when Bishop Henri de Suse brought Lombard builders to Sisteron to construct this religious center. The building served as the seat of the town's bishops and remained a key religious site in the region for centuries.

The cathedral is called Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers because it was built in the space between the town's houses and defensive walls. This name connects the building directly to Sisteron's medieval layout and how the city was organized.

The cathedral is open to visitors during regular hours and welcomes people exploring its interior. In summer months, concerts and performances take place here as part of local festivals, adding to the experience.

The cathedral's name comes from the Latin word 'pomerium', which referred to the open space between town buildings and defensive walls. Few visitors realize this medieval location reference is preserved in the building's name to this day.