Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Cathédrale de la Nativité-de-Marie

Vence was known in Roman times as "Vintium". It was the seat of a bishop as early as 419. Parts of the cathedral date back to early Merovingian times. The first church, built over the foundation of a Roman temple, was probably destroyed by the Lombards. It was rebuilt, damaged, destroyed many times over the century - and by now is a mixture of different styles from Carolingian to late baroque. The stalls were once used by the Canons of the cathedral. Jaques Bellot from Grasse carved them around 1460. Strange that the prudish vandal who seemed the be strongly offended by a nude mermaid (see previous upload), let this carving untouched.

Vence was known in Roman times as "Vintium". It was the seat of a bishop as early as 419. Parts of the cathedral date back to early Merovingian times. The first church, built over the foundation of a Roman temple, was probably destroyed by the Lombards. It was rebuilt, damaged, destroyed many times over the century - and by now is a mixture of different styles from Carolingian to late baroque. The stalls were once used by the Canons of the cathedral. Jaques Bellot from Grasse carved them around 1460. Later some very prudish vandal took a great effort in chiselling off all womanly parts of this mermaid.

Vence was known in Roman times as "Vintium". It was the seat of a bishop as early as 419. Parts of the cathedral date back to early Merovingian times. The first church, built over the foundation of a Roman temple, was probably destroyed by the Lombards. It was rebuilt, damaged, destroyed many times over the century - and by now is a mixture of different styles from Carolingian to late baroque. Shown on the backside of this medieval reliquary is the scene of the flagellation.

Vence was known in Roman times as "Vintium". It was the seat of a bishop as early as 419. Parts of the cathedral date back to early Merovingian times. The first church, built over the foundation of a Roman temple, was probably destroyed by the Lombards. It was rebuilt, damaged, destroyed many times over the century - and by now is a mixture of different styles from Carolingian to late baroque. Here is one of the Carolingian carvings that are now placed on the columns. Note the details, there are birds, grapes, flowers..

Vence was known in Roman times as "Vintium". It was the seat of a bishop as early as 419. Parts of the cathedral date back to early Merovingian times. The first church, built over the foundation of a Roman temple, was probably destroyed by the Lombards. It was rebuilt, damaged, destroyed many times over the century - and by now is a mixture of different styles from Carolingian to late baroque.

A priory existed here already, when after the Albingensian Crusade, Pope John XXII founded the diocese of Rieux in 1317. A couple of small dioceses were founded at that time (eg. Mirepoix, Saint-Papoul, Alet..) to increase the presence of Catholic "control" in the former Cathar area. The cathedral was built in the 14th century in the "gothique méridional" style. The tower is impressive. The diocese of Rieux existed upto the French Revolution. Now Rieux-Volvestre is a small, picturesque town with a population of about 2500. This was my seond visit here - and again, the cathedral was locked.

A priory existed here already, when after the Albingensian Crusade, Pope John XXII founded the diocese of Rieux in 1317. A couple of small dioceses were founded at that time (eg. Mirepoix, Saint-Papoul, Alet..) to increase the presence of Catholic "control" in the former Cathar area. The cathedral was built in the 14th century in the "gothique méridional" style. The tower is impressive. The diocese of Rieux existed upto the French Revolution. Now Rieux-Volvestre is a small, picturesque town with a population of about 2500. This was my seond visit here - and again, the cathedral was locked.

A priory existed here already, when after the Albingensian Crusade, Pope John XXII founded the diocese of Rieux in 1317. A couple of small dioceses were founded at that time (eg. Mirepoix, Saint-Papoul, Alet..) to increase the presence of Catholic "control" in the former Cathar area. The cathedral, seen here, was built in the 14th century in the "gothique méridional" style. The diocese existed upto the French Revolution. Now Rieux-Volvestre is a small, picturesque town with a population of about 2500. This was my seond visit here - and again, the cathedral was locked.

A priory existed here already, when after the Albingensian Crusade, Pope John XXII founded the diocese of Rieux in 1317. A couple of small dioceses were founded at that time (eg. Mirepoix, Saint-Papoul, Alet..) to increase the presence of Catholic "control" in the former Cathar area. The cathedral seen here was built in the 14th century in the "gothique méridional" style. The diocese existed upto the French Revolution. Now Rieux-Volvestre is a small, picturesque town with a population of about 2500. This was my seond visit here - and again, the cathedral was locked.

The most colourful and surprising item inside the rather bleak Cathedral of Vence is this mosaic behind the baptismal font. It was created by russo-french artist Marc Chagall, who lived in nearby St.- Paul de Vence. Worldfamous Chagall has created many stained windows (Metz, Reims, Mainz, Chichester..) of which the most are very dark blue - in opposite to this light coloured scene, depicting Moses in a small craft of bulrushes, being rescued from the Nile. Maybe this was saying Chagall´s way of saying "Merci beaucoup" to Vence after he was awarded the honorary citizenship of the town.

Inside the Cathédrale de la Nativité-de-Marie, the Cathedral of Vence, bishopric seat upto 1801. Originally, dating back to the 11th/12th century, this was a basilica-style church, having one nave and two aisles. Probably only the pillars are still from that time, as the structure is renovated, changed and enlarged many times. Built in the pillars are some brownish reliefs. These stone carvings are from the carolingian church, that was here before the romanesque was built. Denis has a nice photo of one of these carvings: www.flickr.com/photos/89235234@N00/5041059868/

Standing on the place, that was the cemetery upto 1780, seeing the cathedral of Vence from the east. Now, the romanesque structure of the cathedral is obvious. The tower was, when it was constructed 12th/13th century not connected to the church structure. The "Tour de Lambert" to the west of the cathedral looked probably very similar, before it underwent a couple of "renovations". There is a grey basalt column in the center of the square, that is even older than the cathedral. It is one of two columns, given to the Mars-temple in Vintium (Vence) by people from Massalia (Marseille) in 230 aC. The second column exists as well - on another square in Vence. Here is the nothern side of the square: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5571990931/

Behind the market stalls on the "Place Clemenceau" towers the "Tour Saint-Lambert" that was built (much higher) next to the cathedral within the 12th century.Now the tower is part of the cathedral of Vence, that was a bishopric seat, upto 1801. Saint Lambert was bishop here 1114 -1154 - and so named the tower. Since 1879 the main entrance of the cathedral is on the right, just below the baroque Madonna. At least parts of the cathedral date back to early merovingian times. The first church, built over the foundation of a roman temple, was probably destroyed by the Lombards. It was rebuilt, damaged, destroyed many times over the century - and by now is mixture of different styles from carolingian to late baroque.