The Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur

During your stay in Aix-en-Provence, be sure to visit the magnificent Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, in the heart of the Aix-en-Provence district. Whether you are a believer or not, you can not remain insensitive to it.

The legend - attested by the presence of an ancient Roman wall - means that the cathedral was built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo. Erected at the end of the sixth century (perhaps even from the fifth century), it is indeed a real patchwork of architectural styles, which will fascinate the experts as well as the novices ones. You can notice it from the outside: a Gothic portal, another novel, next to an ancient Roman wall. If you want to take a lesson in art history, just open your eyes!

The baptistery is the oldest part of the cathedral - it is also one of the oldest in France. The base of the walls and the baptismal vat, whose waters came from the Roman baths, are original. The dome was added in the 16th century. Inside the cathedral, three architectural styles coexist: a Romanesque nave, another Gothic, a third baroque. The cloister dates from the end of the 12th century. You will be able to see, at its angles, representations of the four evangelists.

Admire the beauty of the stained glass windows, the work of the stone, the friezes and the paintings that decorate the walls of the cathedral. Treasure among the treasures, pride of Aix-en-Provence, the triptych of the burning Buisson, commanded by the Great King René to the painter Nicolas Froment, is located in the Gothic nave.

The Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur is packed with history, but it has entered the 21st century by using the most innovative technologies to make its wealth known to the public. You can benefit from a guided tour through your smartphone, by downloading the application "Stones connected".