Eglise de la Major d'Arles (Church of the Major of Arles), Arles

Church of the Major of Arles commands both a physical and historical prominence in the cityscape. Originally built on the ruins of a Roman temple and consecrated in 452 during the third council of Arles, this timeless sanctuary established itself early on as a spiritual and communal landmark. The church, named for Our Lady the Major, later began construction in its Romanesque form in 1152, retaining the three original nave bays to this day.

Over the centuries, the church evolved , blending Romanesque architecture with Gothic and later additions. The nave’s robust double-arched barrel vault and sturdy pillars reflect its Romanesque roots, while a later Gothic chancel features ribbed vaults and a five-sided apse. In the 16th and 17th centuries, renovations introduced the current square bell tower topped with a pyramidal spire-added in 1579-later adorned by a statue of the Virgin and Child in 1867.

Step inside, and you’ll discover a richly appointed interior filled with historical treasures. Its chapels and altars house centuries-old works: the polychrome marble altars, paintings depicting miracles of saints, intricately sculpted pulpit and choir stalls, and numerous statues-for example, Saint‑Martin, Saint‑George, and Saint‑Véran-each protected as historic objects. The organ, fashioned in 1698 and rebuilt in subsequent years, showcases craftsmanship from Lyon and Marseille.

Beyond its architectural and artistic heritage, the church remains deeply woven into Arles’s living traditions. Amid its classical role as a collegiate church-elevated by Pope Julius III in 1551-it served as the seat of the widest parish in the city until the Revolution. Today, it continues to host the brotherhood of the Gardiens de Saint‑Georges-the traditional Camargue horsemen-who annually return on May 1 for a ceremony blessing their horses, preserving a centuries-old ritual.