Collégiale de Roquemaure
The Collegiate Church of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist, in the southern Gothic style, was built in the 14th century outside the walls in the King's garden.
It is first of all a fortified church, and the current bell tower is none other than the old watchtower.
Its massive exterior, with its buttresses, gives no hint of its slender interior.
The technical prowess of Gothic architecture allows the displacement of thrust forces and thus allows the elevation of the structure.
Commissioned by Cardinal Bertrand de Pouget, its construction began in 1329 and in 1346 it was elevated to the rank of collegiate church. Ten canons were housed in the current chapter street. They joined the adjoining collegiate church by a bridge.
A tower houses a spiral staircase which allowed clergymen to reach this bridge.
At the entrance to the church, you can admire the baptistery which comes from the old church of Sainte Marie, which was located in the castle, and which was restored in the 17th century.
The collegiate church houses the relics of Saint Valentine, which arrived in 1868 following a Catholic mission.
Although their acquisition by a wealthy wine-growing owner was after the Phylloxera episode;
Legend has it that they have since protected the vines.
It contains an astonishing quantity of quality paintings, in the style or school of Caravaggio, Velasquez (Christ on the Cross), Grève...
The oculus was present at the start of construction but the other stained glass windows appeared in the 19th century.
We can notice the presence of a Saint, Saint Ludivicus, who is none other than Saint Louis.
Its baroque organ, built in 1690 by the Julien Brothers in Marseille from Carolinian wood, is listed as a historic monument.
The famous song “Christian Midnight” was first played on this organ in 1847.
The text is the work of a Roquemaurois: Placide Cappeau, close to the Félibrige and its founder, Frédéric Mistral.
The music is composed by Mr Adam, and the singer is Mrs Laurey, wife of Mr Laurey, Parisian engineer who participated in the construction of the suspension bridge, and friend of Placide Cappeau.
Its massive exterior, with its buttresses, gives no hint of its slender interior.
The technical prowess of Gothic architecture allows the displacement of thrust forces and thus allows the elevation of the structure.
Commissioned by Cardinal Bertrand de Pouget, its construction began in 1329 and in 1346 it was elevated to the rank of collegiate church. Ten canons were housed in the current chapter street. They joined the adjoining collegiate church by a bridge.
A tower houses a spiral staircase which allowed clergymen to reach this bridge.
At the entrance to the church, you can admire the baptistery which comes from the old church of Sainte Marie, which was located in the castle, and which was restored in the 17th century.
The collegiate church houses the relics of Saint Valentine, which arrived in 1868 following a Catholic mission.
Although their acquisition by a wealthy wine-growing owner was after the Phylloxera episode;
Legend has it that they have since protected the vines.
It contains an astonishing quantity of quality paintings, in the style or school of Caravaggio, Velasquez (Christ on the Cross), Grève...
The oculus was present at the start of construction but the other stained glass windows appeared in the 19th century.
We can notice the presence of a Saint, Saint Ludivicus, who is none other than Saint Louis.
Its baroque organ, built in 1690 by the Julien Brothers in Marseille from Carolinian wood, is listed as a historic monument.
The famous song “Christian Midnight” was first played on this organ in 1847.
The text is the work of a Roquemaurois: Placide Cappeau, close to the Félibrige and its founder, Frédéric Mistral.
The music is composed by Mr Adam, and the singer is Mrs Laurey, wife of Mr Laurey, Parisian engineer who participated in the construction of the suspension bridge, and friend of Placide Cappeau.
Further information :
Visit on request from the Tourist Office of Grand Avignon – Roquemaure office.
Themes:
Location details
- GR route within 1 km
- Motorway exit within 5 km
- River stop less than 500 m away
- Village center
- Public transport stop within 500 m
Visit
Individual visit services
- Unguided individual tours on request
- Guided individual tours on request
Group visit services
- Unguided group visits on request
- Guided group tours on request
Opening
| Opening hours from January 01 to December 31, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Open on Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
Pricing
Visit on request from the Tourist Office of Grand Avignon – Roquemaure office.
Services
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