Editing Autun (section)

==Sights==

The city boasts two ancient [[Roman Empire|Roman]] gates (Porte Saint-André and Porte d'Arroux) and other ruins dating to the time of Augustus. One of the most impressive remains is that of the ancient theatre, which was one of the largest in the western part of the empire with a 17,000-seat capacity. To the northwest of the city is the so-called Temple of Janus, only two walls (faces) of which remain. To the southeast is the mysterious Pierre de Couhard, a rock pyramid of uncertain function which may date to Roman times.

[[File:Autun Pyramide de Couhard.jpg|thumb|240px|Couhard Pyramid]]
[[Autun Cathedral]], also known as ''Saint Lazare Cathedral'', dates from the early twelfth century and is a major example of [[Romanesque architecture]]. It was formerly the chapel of the Dukes of Burgundy; their palace was the actual episcopal residence. The cathedral was originally built as a [[pilgrimage]] church for the [[veneration]] of the [[relic]] Saint Lazarus, mentioned in the Gospels, and considered the first bishop of Marseille, and who, always according to tradition, arrived in Provence with Mary Magdalen.

[[Image:Autun porte Saint-André.JPG|thumb|240px|Saint-André gate]]
[[File:Autun Porte Arroux PA00113093 06 JPM.JPG|thumb|240px|Arroux gate]]
Autun's 12th-century bishop, Étienne de Bâgé, probably built the church in response to the [[Vézelay Abbey|construction of Ste. Madeleine]] at nearby [[Vézelay]], home to the French [[Cult (religion)|cult]] of [[Mary Magdalene]]. St. Lazare was only later elevated to the rank of cathedral, replacing the former cathedral dedicated to [[Nazarius and Celsus|St. Nazaire]].<ref>Linda Seidel, ''Legends in limestone: Lazarus, Gislebertus, and the Cathedral of Autun'' (University of Chicago Press, 1999), p. 35 [https://books.google.com/books?id=hQdw2Pf6Vy0C&dq=%22No+rationale+for+the+church%27s+construction%22&pg=PA34 online.]</ref>

The Autun Cathedral is famous for its architectural sculpture, particularly the [[Tympanum (architecture)|tympanum]] of [[The Last Judgment]] above the west [[Portal (architecture)|portal]], surviving fragments from the lost portal of the north [[transept]], and the [[Capital (architecture)|capitals]] in the [[nave]] and [[choir (architecture)|choir]]. All of these are traditionally considered the work of [[Gislebertus]], whose name is on the west tympanum. It is uncertain whether Gislebertus is the name of the sculptor or of a [[patron]]. If Gislebertus is in fact the artist, he is one of very few medieval artists whose name is known.