Digne-les-Bains - Notre Dame du Bourg

Notre Dame du Bourg was the center of an early diocese (4th century). The building was constructed from 1220/1225 on - and continued from east to west. When the facade, seen here, was built the ideas of gothic style had arrived and so the large rose window was possible. The cathedral was always outside the little town, so it was difficult to defend it. In the Wars of Religion it was raided and looted a couple of times from Huguenots as well as from the Catholic League. It was even tried to blow it up. So finally the cathedral was abandoned - and the bishop moved his seat permanently into walled Digne.

Here is more information (in french):
catho04.cef.fr/decouvrir/paroisses/digne/digne2.htm