Vence - Cathédrale de la Nativité-de-Marie

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.