Date: 1152
Era: Middle Ages
Type: Religious architecture
Status: Property of the Town of Arles, listed as a national Historic Monument in 1945
General view of the church today
Major Church takes its name from its position at the top of L'Hauture hill.
It was built in the 12th century, but its architecture has often been reworked.
Its nave still has Romanesque features; more recent developments have been added, particularly the bell tower and the façade.
The church's furniture is particularly rich.
It was erected as a collegiate chapter and was the largest parish church in Arles until the Revolution.
Major Church is currently the religious centre of the Brotherhood of Herdsmen. They visit on 1 May every year to pay tribute to Saint George and to have their horses blessed.
The 1944 bombings seriously shook its structure, which has since been the subject of a vast restoration operation.
The Romanesque church still has its nave with three bays, covered with a broken barrel vault supported by projecting transverse arches which rest on solid pillars.
The semi-circular apse was adorned with eight basalt and porphyry columns which have since disappeared.
The chevet contains a vaulted chancel bay on intersecting ribs and a five-sided apse as high as the nave.
Attached to the apse are ogival-style side-chapels dating from the 16th century.
The current façade is in the sombre elegant style of Louis XIII.
The square bell tower is topped with a pyramid surmounted by a Virgin designed by Lasalle and created by Cusson.
The furniture still in the church includes an 18th century polychrome marble pulpit and a gilded wood altar from Saint Blaise Church. As well as Saint George, there are two 19th century marble statues, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a Virgin attributed to the Italian sculptor Monti. Finally, the chancel altarpiece houses three 18th century paintings representing the Annunciation, the Visitation and the Presentation in the Temple.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice&id=39
The Monks' Chapel of Saint Césaire Abbey, founded in the 6th century by the Bishop of the same name, Saint Blaise Church is of interest to historians and archaeologists alike.
It was mainly built in three stages, starting in the 12th century, but earlier remains have been found.
It was deconsecrated during the Revolution and had a range of different utilitarian uses, before being excavated in 1972 and 1982.
Today, it is recognised as a heritage site of considerable interest, which may be further developed as part of the project involving the Saint Césaire enclosure, which is currently being examined.
The current building still has traces of its various extensions and developments.
The oldest part has a non-salient transept with two semi-domed vaulted absidioles.
The cross reveals a cloister vault.
A short semi-circular vaulted bay in the nave, separated from the chancel by two large cruciform pillars, is supported by very small side-aisles.
The second part, of a simpler architectural style, sees the disappearance of the two narrow side-aisles.
Finally, the third part, which is slightly narrower, has acoustic vases at the start of the vault which reduced the echo from the nave.
The only item of furniture to survive is a main altar made of painted gilded wood, which is currently in Notre-Dame-de-la-Major Church.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice&id=46
Sambuc Church was part of a commission issued in 1636 by Monseigneur de Barrault for the construction of six parish churches in Camargue. The Bishop wanted to fight against the de-Christianisation of the region.
Its façade was rebuilt in 1656 and its roof was replaced at the end of the 19th century.
Nothing remains of the original altars, baptismal fonts and sculpted fonts made of dressed stone.
A second construction was attached later when the nave was extended.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice&id=14
Mas-Thibert Church was consecrated in 1857 and dedicated to Saint Honorat. It is the only church in the commune to be built by the architect Henri Révoil.
Mas-Thibert Church changed location three times before moving here.
The building we can see today was constructed in the late 19th century and consecrated in 1900.
It is still used today and houses a number of remarkable relics and statues. A 14th century wooden Christ was discovered there in 1995; it is now at the Réattu Museum in Arles.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice&id=17
12th century
Also known as Saint Agatha.
This Provençal Romanesque-style church in the L'Hauture district, near Saint-Césaire Monastery, was once a parish church.
Built in the 12th century, only part of it remains, including a remarkable semi-domed vaulted apse with exterior décor inspired by Antiquity.
As with other monuments in the town, its apparent burial testifies to the difference between the current ground level and that of the mediaeval period. The intention here was perhaps to conserve the Paleo-Christian level. Outside, the semi-circular chevet is decorated with fluted pilasters with capitals adorned with acanthus leaves, topped with an overhanging cornice.
This décor is directly inspired by ancient monuments, particularly the amphitheatre.
The burial of the apse, which is currently half-interred, is due to the raising of the ground level at the time of construction; this can also be seen at the nearby Saint Blaise Church.
All that remains of the nave are two bays, one of which is partly incorporated into the neighbouring house.
Two doors in the north and south walls, as well as a window, testify once again to the difference between the ground level at the time of construction and now.
The building is particularly noteworthy for its semi-domed vaulted apse, whose ribs end in capitals around the keystone, which was once decorated with a lamb.
The apse wall has a partially restored décor of arches.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice_descriptif&id=56
Also previously called Saint Antoine
Era: Classical period
Type: Religious architecture
Originally built in the 12th century, during the mediaeval Renaissance, Saint Julien Church was rebuilt in the 17th century during another period of religious restructuring in the Church.
It is located on the boundary of the Cavalerie district, where a number of noblemen built their sumptuous residences during the same period, having made their fortune through trade.
Its architecture is a curious combination of late Gothic and Classical.
Stripped of most of its wonderful furniture during the Revolution, the building suffered again during the 1944 bombings, which left it in ruins.
Saint Julien was restored, but is no longer the parish church that it was for centuries. It can still be visited during the concerts held there on a regular basis.
Site plan of the church
The southern Gothic style of this church, which was rebuilt in the 17th century, can still be seen in its typical Arles religious architecture.
A beautiful Classical façade, with elements of Baroque décor (cherubs, niches, etc.), precedes the Gothic nave.
Most of the furniture, as well as the historiated stained glass windows by Guibert d’Anelle (19th century), disappeared in the bombings.
The only survivor from the 17th century is the beautiful gilded wood altarpiece, a gift from the Brotherhood of the Saint Sacrement. The central painting depicting Saint Julian the Hospitalier (1686) is by Louis Parrocel. On either side of this are The Last Supper and an Adoration of the Magi attributed to Gabriel d’Aix.
On either side of the chancel are statues of Saint Julian the Hospitalier and Saint Antoine, the Abbot. Finally, visitors can see a marble Virgin whose design is attributed to Revoil, a student of David, and a Way of the Cross painted in 1958 by Guy Renne.
The church's bell tower has two bells, one of which, from 1691, is one of the oldest in the town.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice_descriptif&id=40
Albaron Church existed in the Middle Ages and depended on the château of the same name. It was originally dedicated to Saint Vincent and became a parish church in 1230.
It was ruined by the Religious Wars and rebuilt in 1638. It was paid for by the faithful, thanks to the resolve of Archbishop Aubert de Barrault and donations from Don Antoine de Rampelle.
It was destroyed during the Revolution. The current church was built in 1884.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice&id=13
This church was built on the site of an old chapel which probably dated back to the 12th century.
The building was at risk of collapse around 1930. It was therefore fully renovated at the end of the 1930s, mainly through the generosity of Mlle de Jonquières, who financed a large part of the work and paid for a new altar.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice&id=35
Date: 12th and 15th centuries
Era: Middle Ages
Type: Religious architecture
Status: Property of the Town of Arles and listed as a national Historic Monument in 1840 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in1981
The Christian community of Arles was one of the first in Gaul, with the presence of a Bishop documented in 254.
Furthermore, for a while Arles Cathedral had the status of Primatial Church of the Gauls and remained the site of an Archbishopric until the Revolution. It is currently a parish church.
Originally located near the ancient rampart of L'Hauture, the cathedral was moved close to the old Roman forum around the 5th century.
It was built in several stages and the majority of the monument we see today dates from the 12th century, when its originally sombre façade was accentuated with its magnificent historiated statues.
The building is one of the largest in Romanesque Provence.
It is also a church of relics on the Way of St James. A Gothic chancel has replaced the 15th century Romanesque apses.
The monument was erected in several stages.
It has the characteristic layout of Provençal buildings: a high nave with five broken barrel vaulted bays, flanked by narrow side-aisles and a very short transept whose cross is surmounted by a cupola and supports the bell tower.
The chancel had a main apse and two absidioles.
To the west, a sumptuously decorated portal completes the layout.
Finally, a long Gothic chevet with ambulatory and radiating chapels replaced the old Romanesque chancel in the mid-15th century.
The portal, dedicated to Judgement Day, is also faithfully reproduced model and an illustration of the glories of Arles Church.
The composition superposes three main themes: the assembly of patron saints, the Divine Epic and the Human Epic, from the Fall to the future fate of the chosen ones and the damned.
The composition culminates in the solemn, triumphal image of Christ. The dominant feature of this magnificent work is the extent of its ancient inspiration; its Roman cultural heritage is a symbol of a real 'renaissance'.
Date: 1450
Era: Middle Ages, 19th century
Type: Religious architecture
Status: Property of the Town of Arles, listed as a regional Historic Monument in 1941
The former chapel of the Convent of the Great Augustinians, Saint-Césaire is now the only church in the La Roquette district to still be consecrated.
It is of southern Gothic style and dates from the mid-15th century; however, it was modified several times, particularly during the 19th century.
It houses the tomb of Quiqueran de Beaujeu, Grand Prior of the Order of Malta in the 17th century.
Its vocation as a mariners' parish can be seen in some of the works it contains, some of which come from the other two former parish churches in the district, Saint Laurent and Sainte Croix.
Its name, Saint-Césaire, after the 6th century Bishop of Arles, only dates back to 1839, when it was re-established as a place of worship.
The building' was originally constructed, in 1450, in the southern Gothic style.
On the side-wings of the façade, which was modified in the 19th century, it is easy to see where the the church's two bays were destroyed during a fire in the 17th century.
It is still possible to see the remains of the Cloister of the Great Augustinians near the church.
Inside, the building consists of a nave with four ogival vaulted bays, flanked with side chapels.
The chancel, which was transformed in the early 19th century, has an octagonal cupola roof with lanterns (17th century).
The church has taken in several items of furniture from the district's other two churches, which were destroyed in the Revolution.
At the back of the chancel is the 1638 old painting by Trophime Bigot from the main altar of Saint Laurent Church
Saint Césaire is the only church in Arles to still have some of its original floor, which features coats of arms and funeral epitaphs.
In 1866, François Mader presented the church with the organ loft at the back of the nave; it is the only one in Arles currently in working order.
This instrument, which replaces an older model, has a Neo-Gothic organ case with three turrets and pinnacles.
The historiated stained glass windows bear the words Guilbert d'Anelle, 1875, Avignon.
Cose che dovreste sapere:
http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice_descriptif&id=22