Quarante - Sainte-Marie

A legend tells, that the town took its name from forty Christian martyrs who died here. End of the 10th century a convent of regular canons existed. The first known abbot was elected in 1027.

Todays church was erected from the early 11th century on. The building process started in the east and the altars got consecrated in 1053. The building was completed 200 years later, but underwent a couple of alterations later.

I remember at least three sarcophagi in the church. The two older were Roman, this medieval one was (for me!) the most interesting.

"Here are the bodies of the Saint Dalmatian martyrs
Landulfi, Valenci, Landeberti and Gervasi"