Cathedral of Aix-en-Provence visitor guide

Visit Cathedral of Aix-en-Provence, France

The cathedral is the principal religious monument in the town of Aix-en-Provence, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department of Provence.

Discover Aix-en-Provence Cathedral

France This Way review: the cathedral in Aix-en-Provence has several impressive historic characteristics that make a visit rewarding and is one of the most impressive cathedrals in the south of France

gothic doorway to Aix-en-Provence cathedral

From the first origins of the cathedral to the completion of the structure that we see today it took more that 1000 years to complete. As a result, you will see architectural elements from several different epoques in the building.

Among these there are vestiges of Roman architecture in the southern part of the cathedral, which are the oldest parts that we see today, and baroque elements in the chapels on the north side.

The belltower was built in the 14th century, and the main nave of the church dates from the 15th century. It was also in the 15th century that the bells were added to the belltower.

The impressive entrance was added in the 16th century and incorporates numerous statues of the Saints and other carvings in its Gothic style design, as well as a large ornate window above the door. This is one of the best examples of this type of design and architecture in the south of France, so you should take a moment to look at the details.

The first Christian monument was built on this site in the 5th century, and it was built on the ruins of the Roman forum that was once the centre of Aix-en-Provence.

The current cathedral includes the baptistery that you see on the right as you enter. This baptistery was largely rebuilt (as an exact copy of the original) in the 11th century, although the baptistery now has a font for baptism, instead of the original "full body submersion" arrangement.

If you find these Roman baptisteries as interesting as I do, you might like to know the only other ancient baptistery in France is also in Provence, at Fréjus.

You can also visit the cloister in Aix-en-Provence cathedral, built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style. This is a small but beautiful cloister

Each arch of the cathedral is supported by two stone columns, and each column supports carvings, of Biblical creatures, animals and plants. On some of the corners you can see carved statues, and the middle of the cloister is a planted garden - all very pretty and relaxing.

Note that you can only visit the cloister as part of a guided visit. These take place every 30 minutes during the day (excluding lunchtime and Sunday mornings). The sign says "donations welcome" but in reality they demanded an admission fee from us, five euros each if I remember correctly, which is rather expensive for a visit that doesn't take very long.

The remainder of the cathedral is a typical gothic style structure, not outstanding compared to some cathedrals from this period but interesting to see.

The furnishings inside the cathedral include stained glass windows, an organ, some impressive medieval art works, several statues and impressive carved wooden stalls, so take the time necessary to see all these features.

Occasional light shows are put on for visitors to Aix-en-Provence cathedral. Unfortunately these have never been at the times of our visits to the town but from photos we have seen they are very spectacular, so check if any are taking place at the time of your visit.

Attractions nearby

Another important religious monument in Aix-en-Provence is the Church Saint-Jean-de-Malta, in the south-east of the town.

For more sites and attractions in the town see our guide to Aix-en-Provence.

See more cathedrals in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Bouches-du-Rhone guide and the Provence guide.

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Places to visit near Cathedral of Aix-en-Provence

Church Saint-Jean-de-Malte

The Church Saint-Jean-de-Malte is the oldest gothic church in Provence, built in the 13th century

Church Saint-Jean-de-Malte guide

Aix-en-Provence

The vibrant town of Aix-en-Provence is a traditional Provence town, with many museums and sites of interest, and a very leasant town to visit

Aix-en-Provence guide

Pertuis

Pertuis is a small Provencal town to the south of the Luberon Regional Natural Park

Pertuis guide

Extraordinary Museum of Georges Mazoyer

Museum featuring an eclectic collection of objects discovered in the ocean and various works of art by Georges Mazoyer

Extraordinary Museum of Georges Mazoyer guide

Ansouis

The quaint medieval centre, the castle and the views from Ansouis make it one of our favourite Luberon villages

Ansouis guide

Cadenet

Cadenet is a small town in the south of the Luberon Regional Natural Park

Cadenet guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Bouches-du-Rhone

The French version of this page is at Cathedral of Aix-en-Provence (Francais)