20 Notable Architectures to Explore in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Checkout places to visit in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is one of the most popular holiday regions in the south of France. Its identity as a geographical region is a holdover from the days of the Roman Empire. Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is famous for its sunny weather, colorful countryside, tradition, wine, food, and language.

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Notable Architectures to Explore in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Abbaye De Lérins

Abbaye De Lérins is a Cistercian monastery situated on the island of Saint Honorat off the coast of Cannes. A monastic culture has existed there since the 5th century. The monks are planting vineyards today, making wine and liqueur.

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque

The Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is one of the purest examples of primitive Cistercian architecture Located deep in its Provençal valley.

Aix Cathedral

Aix Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and a national monument of France located in Aix-en-Provence of southern France. The church was designed using a mixture of three architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic, and Neo-Gothic).

Arles Amphitheatre

Located in the city of Aries, Arles Amphitheatre is one of city’s most important and impressive Roman structures. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arles Amphitheatre was built in 90 AD and during its prime time, it had a seating capacity of over over 20,000 spectators. It was built to conduct chariot races and bloddy hand to hand battles.

Avignon Cathedral

Avignon Cathedral is one of the renown Roman Catholic church situated in the Avignon commune of France. It was built in the twelfth century. It features a roman style of architecture and a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary atop the bell tower.

Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde

Notre-Dame de la Garde is a Catholic basilica in Marseille city. The basilica is located at the south side of the Old Port of Marseille, on the highest point in Marseille- a 149-meter high limestone outcropping. It was built on the foundation of an ancient fort.

Cathédrale La Major

Marseille Cathedral is a national monument of France located in Marseille. It has been a basilica minor since 1896 and is the seat of the Archdiocese of Marseille. Marseille Cathedral is truly one of the best architectural wonders in the region.

Château d'If

Château d'If is a famous castle in southern France. It was built by Francis I in 1524, the castle was used for several centuries as a state prison. The island is uninhabited except of the fortress.

Château de la Napoule

The Château de la Napoule is a restored castle and a historical landmark located in Mandelieu-la-Napoule. The castle was built by the Countess of Villeneuve in the fourteenth century. Over the centuries it was rebuilt several times. The present structure was built by American artist Henry Clews in 1919.

Citadel of Saint-Tropez Maritime History Museum

The Citadel of Saint-Tropez is a historic building containing one of the most visited attractions in Saint Tropez, as well as the Maritime History Museum. The museum displays the work, artifacts, and other objects related to the lives of sailors as well as the sea activities that took place many centuries ago. The Citadel was constructed based on the drawings of engineer Raymond de Bonnefons in 1602 and 1608.

Fondation Maeght

The Maeght Foundation is a modern art museum located on a beautiful hill overlooking Saint-Paul de Vence in the southeast of France. The museum has a set of 12000 items of art that includes paintings, sculptures, collages, ceramics, and all kinds of recent art.

Greek Villa Kerylos

Villa Kerylos is a house designed in Ancient Greek style by the French archaeologist Theodore Reinach in the early 1900s. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1966.

Nice Cathedral

Nice Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the very heart of the old town of Nice. The cathedral is one of Nice’s major monuments and also it is the seat of the Diocese of Nice.

Notre-Dame de l’Assomption Basilica

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice is a Roman Catholic basilica and the largest church in Nice. It was built between 1864 and 1868 in a Neo-Gothic architectural style.

Palais des Papes

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace is one of the largest medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. Palais des Papes is a historical and architectural landmark and primarily a tourist attraction. It is also part of Avignon’s thriving cultural scene and hosts concerts and exhibitions as well as the Festival d’Avignon in its courtyard, making it an integral part of the city’s modern artistic traditions.

Palais Longchamp

The Palais Longchamp is a magnificent monument in the fourth district of Marseille, France. It brings together the Museum of Fine Arts, the Natural History Museum, and the Botanical Garden on the same site.

Saint-Trophime Primatial Catholic Church

The Church of St. Trophime is one of the iconic structures in Arles, built between the twelfth century and the fifteenth century. It is a Roman Catholic church and an ancient cathedral in the town of Arles.

Site Archéologique de Glanum

Glanum was a prosperous and ancient town dating back from the 7th century BC. The site is renowned for its two well-preserved 1st century BC monuments, known as "Les Antiques"- a mausoleum, and a triumphal arch.

St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral

St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral is one of the most important Orthodox cathedral outside Russia, this is a beautifully ornate building. It was built to serve the large Russian community that had settled in Nice. It is recognized as a national monument of France, and it currently belongs to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. It is the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe.

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a French seaside villa located at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera. The mansion is filled with antique furniture, Old Master paintings, sculptures, objets d'art, and assembled an extensive collection of rare porcelain. The gardens are classified by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France.

Map of Notable Architectures to explore in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur