Embrun - Cathédrale Notre-Dame-du-Réal

Since 365, when Saint Marcellin became the first bishop here, a cathedral existed in Embrun. Saint Gregory of Tours wrote about a "basilica mirabilis" built over the tombs of Saints Nazarius and Celsus. After the Lombards had sacked Embrun end of the 6th century, Charlemagne funded the erection of a new cathedral. In the 10th century the Sarazens raided the area - and again looted the town (and killed the bishop).


The cathedral of today was built on foundations of Charlemagne´s basilica between 1170 and 1220. It has an impressive ribbed vaulting made of black and white stones.

The capitals around the nave are Romanesque. Two lions with enormous tongues flank a mermaid, probably a cousin of the mermaid I had met near the portal.