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Provence and Côte d'Azur : Architecture

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  • The extraordinary abbey of Montmajour was built on a rocky island amid the Rhône marshes. It was an important pilgrimage site and became wealthy on its sale of pardons for sins. The cloister is decorated with mythical and Biblical scenes (see Abbaye de Montmajour).

  • Constructed in the pink stone typical of Fréjus, the 13th-century cathedral has a beautiful Renaissance doorway. Its interior is dominated by superb pointed arches, and the cloister ceiling, with its scenes of the Apocalypse, is unique (see Fréjus Old Town).

  • Lively frescoes (1491) greet visitors to this simple chapel, which has recently been renovated. They include the scenes depicting the Last Judgment, with St Peter welcoming the virtuous to Heaven while the Devil leads the damned to Hell.

  • The dazzling white interior walls of this little chapel are adorned with black line drawings of the Stations of the Cross. They are unmistakably the work of Henri Matisse (see Henri Matisse), who designed this building in 1949.

  • The belltower of this fortified church is a Camargue landmark. The church has lent its name to the capital of the region, and its sturdy walls offered refuge from raiders. The most colourful sight is the carved boat with statues of the Virgin and Mary Magdalene.

  • St-Trophime’s elegant interior and Romanesque carving make it the most attractive of all Provençal churches. It’s also one of the oldest – a church stood here as early as AD 450. In the 11th century the church was rebuilt and dedicated to St Trophime (see Les Alyscamps).

  • Built by the Knights Templar, the 13th-century parish church of this mountain village has a beautiful altarpiece, Notre Dame de Secours (1525) by Antoine Ronzen, and a reredos of the Passion carried out by Flemish craftsmen.

  • Lovely arched windows bring light into this striking former cathedral, probably built during the 13th century. Its west front is lavishly decorated with carved stonework. Inside, a pointed arch is pierced by a single window.

  • Fragonard’s depiction of Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet is the main reason for visiting this 13th-century church. It also contains three striking religious works by Rubens, all painted in Rome in 1601: The Crown of Thorns , The Crucifixion of Christ and The Deposition of St Helena .

  • A harmonious blend of Romanesque and Gothic, with a barrel-vaulted nave and rib-vaulted apse, this church dates from the 14th century. Elaborate geometric patterns decorate the doorway.

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