What was supposed to be a simple facelift for the halls of Vence turned into a fabulous return to the 5th century. While excavating to renovate the covered market, archaeologists stumbled upon a buried treasure: the remains of a paleochristian cathedral, forgotten for centuries. Thirty meters of stone, memory, and sacredness. A whole religious architecture from the very beginning of Christianity in Provence is resurfacing, like a precious relic emerging from the fog of time.
A six-century puzzle beneath our feet
What makes this discovery even crazier is the layering of the structures. By scraping beneath the layers of soil, archaeologists were able to trace no less than six centuries of successive evolutions of the building, all the way to its abandonment in the 11th century. It’s a bit like pressing “fast forward” on the religious history of the region, with &ag.rave; the key is a super-valuable glimpse into the church's adaptation throughout the ages. A little gem on the site: a remarkably well-preserved baptismal font, which speaks volumes about the rites and beliefs of yesteryears.
Next to the church, about thirty graves have been uncovered, and they are definitely not there by chance. These are thought to belong to important figures, possibly religious leaders or notable locals. Researchers now hope to identify some of these deceased, similar to the excavations done at Notre-Dame de Paris. It's a posthumous investigation full of promise that could reveal new names or key figures in local history.
A fresh insight into the Christian origins of the region
This ghostly cathedral serves as a reminder that southeastern France was a crucial hub of ancient Christianity. Just a short distance away, the Lérins Islands played a significant role in this story.
acute; had a role as a spiritual beacon since late Antiquity, infusing all of Provence with their religious influence. The discovery in Vence fits into this dynamic and enriches a network of sacred places that time had erased—but not forgotten.Beneath the cobblestones of Vence, the roots of Provençal Christianity resurface. And with them comes a piece of collective memory that was just waiting for a shovel's touch to come back to life.
Source : Le Singulier