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Religious Sights in Provence

Discover and book the top Provence sights

a grand palace in Avignon

Petit Palais museum

Location
Avignon

The Petit Palais museum owes its name to the familiar name of the Archbishops Palace in which it is installed, name that it was given by reference to the great neighbouring palace: the Palais des Papes.

Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Graces, Cotignac

Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Graces, Cotignac

This chapel was originally built after a local woodsman saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the clouds above the site in 1519. The first stone for the building was laid a month after the vision.

La Synagogue, Carpentras

La Synagogue, Carpentras

Location
Carpentras

The synagogue of Carpentras is the oldest synagogue still in activity in France.

Monastere de Saorge

Monastere de Saorge Monastery

Beautiful baroque architecture, examples of 17th- and 18th-century frescoes and furniture and a large terraced garden.

photo of ruined abbey

Abbaye St Roman, Beaucaire

The St Roman Abbey dates back to the 5th century, built by hermits and monks. It is cleverly ucarved into the surrounding rocks and cavities and you can wander around the chapel and ancient monk cells. It's heyday was in the 14th century when it was fortified and used as a college.

Abbaye Notre Dame de Senanque, near Gordes

Abbaye Notre Dame de Senanque, near Gordes

Location
Gordes

This 12th century Cistercian monastery is an iconic scene of Provence. With fields of rows of lavender in an isolated valley leading to a beautifully solumn sanctuary, the Abbey Notre Dame de Senanque provides a glimpse back in time - if you can ignore the crowds of tourists that invariably will share the moment with you.

stone walls and a path leading to a fortress

Chartreuse du Val de Benediction, Villeneuve les Avignon

Location
Avignon

This Carthusian monastery heralds back to the 14th century when it was built for Pope Innocent VI. The monastery consisted of a church and three cloisters which made it the largest monastery in France.

church towers in Seillans Provence

Eglise Saint Leger, Seillans

The church of Saint Leger sits amongst the narrow cobbled medieval streets in the very pretty little town that is Seillans.

image of a church facade

Cathedrale St Sauveur

Location
Aix-en-Provence

Aix's cathedral has its origins in the 5th century and it has been added to throughout the centuries.

a photo of a church and its spire

Abbaye du Thoronet

One of the famous Cistercian abbeys, the Abbaye du Thoronet was built in the late 12th century. This is a magical place, set in beautiful countryside of the Var. The abbey is wonderfully tranquil, surrounded as it is by woods and small streams.

exterior of a small chapel with bell

Chapelle de Notre dame du Chateau, Les Baux

This Romanesque chapel was built on a rocky promontory offering visitors breathtaking views of the Alpilles.

Les Alyscamps, Arles

Les Alyscamps

Graves, mausoleums and sarcophagi at this site date back to the beginning of the Roman empire, but it wasn't until the early Christian period that there was a large flurry of activity here.

Cathedrale Notre Dame du Puy, Grasse

Cathedrale Notre Dame du Puy, Grasse

Location
Grasse

The medieval church of Notre-Dame du Puy was raised to cathedral status in 1244, when the bishop transferred from Antibes to Grasse.

Saint-Jean-de-Malte Church

Saint-Jean-de-Malte Church

Location
Aix-en-Provence

This charming little church is located in the centre of Aix en Provence, alongside the Musee Granet.

Uzes Cathedral

Uzes Cathedral

Formerly a Roman Catholic cathedral it is now a protestant church in the centre of the town of Uzes.

photo of a historic building

Palais des Papes

Location
Avignon

This magnificent building was built for Pope Benedict III in 1335 as a residence and a 'grand project'. It's the largest Gothic palace in the world (at 15,000 square metres) and is in the top ten most visited monuments in France (over 650,000 visitors per year).

Synagogue de Cavaillon

Synagogue de Cavaillon

Location
Cavaillon

The synagogue in Cavaillon is no longer used as a place of worship, but it's on many people's "must visit" lists if you're in the area, thanks to its ornate decoration and fascinating history.

Saint Vincent Church, Les Baux

Saint Vincent Church, Les Baux

Location
Les Baux-de-Provence

This is one of three churches in the old village of Les Baux and has been built partly into the rock face behind it.