Religious Architecture

In the IVth century emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and in establishing Arles as his capital of southern Gaul opened the era of rich Christian religious buildings. The necropolis of Alyscamps continued to flourish with its unique chapel of Saint-Honoret still as captured on canvas by Van Gogh. Churches of Romanesque style as Saint-Trophime with its lovely cloisters in Arles is a must see.

Church crypts offer their special art and ambiance. Of particular interest is the fortified church and its crypt dedicated to Sainte-Sarah in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Saint-Victor's in Marseille or the baptistery of Saint-Sauveur at Aix-en-Provence.

Whether the delightful small chapel of Saint-Etienne du Grés or the Cistercian abbeys of Silvacane, Sénanque and Saint-Pons. The Middle age comes alive in the sculptured capitals of the cloister columns and the vaulted ceilings.

A must see is the Palace of the Popes complex in Avignon. Don't miss the garden hill further west of the Palace with its lovely swans and view of the Rhône and the bridge of Saint-Benezet where "they danced on" and crossed over the river. Alas one still can probably dance but since it spans less than half the river one should take the new bridge to reach the Cistercian Monastery at Villeneuve-les-Avignon.

The age of Classic and Baroque Architecture with their particular decorative style as represented by the sculptures of the church of Rognes offer a more elaborated viewpoint of the period. Also worth a visit is the church at Martigues.

Other examples of interest, in Marseille, is the XIXth century cathedral of La Major in a Byzantine style and the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde high above offering a spectacular view of the city and the port. Both these churches represent gigantic edifices of the period.

The countryside is doted with chapels, churches and other buildings of charm. In the Alpilles foothills, the chapel of Saint-Sixte in Eygalières is of a scale befitting its site under the sun surrounded by cypresses. The belfries of wrought-iron are typical of the area and plentiful.