Located in the heart of the old town of Cavaillon, the Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran cathedral is a remarkable monument of Romanesque heritage in Luberon. This building, whose origins date back to the end of the 11th century, bears witness to nearly a thousand years of religious, architectural and artistic history.
A former bishopric since the High Middle Ages, Cavaillon preserves a very rich cathedral complex, composed of the cathedral, the chapter and a particularly precious Romanesque cloister. The building was expanded over the centuries, especially between the 16th and 18th centuries with the addition of side chapels.
After a major restoration carried out between 2018 and 2024, the former cathedral has regained all its brilliance and now fully highlights its history, architecture and interior decorations.
At first glance, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran surprises with the richness of its architecture. This complexity reflects the numerous stages of its construction and expansion over time.
A first episcopal presence is attested in Cavaillon as early as the end of the 4th century. The Romanesque building that we know today took shape from the end of the 11th century, before being extended in the following century to reach the current dimensions of the nave and the choir.
Later, side chapels enriched the complex until the end of the 15th century, giving the cathedral this composite silhouette that reflected the evolution of uses, styles and liturgical needs.
Formerly, the complex consisted of two distinct churches, that of the bishop and that of the Canons, connected by a cloister. Of the canons' church, known as Saint-Pierre, destroyed in the 18th century, only a few arcades visible nearby remain today.
The Romanesque cloister, built at the beginning of the 13th century, is one of the great treasures of the site. A haven of peace and freshness, it once linked the cathedral church to the church of the Canons, which has now disappeared.
The eye is also drawn to the octagonal Romanesque bell tower, built in the 15th century, which dominates the city and serves as a landmark in the ancient center. Its sculpted decoration, columns and capitals reflect the quality of the medieval ornamentation preserved on the monument.
Inside, the cathedral reveals superb 17th-century gilded woodwork, 19th-century wall paintings, an organ, as well as several remarkable paintings by Daret, Nicolas and Pierre Mignard, Parrocel and Grangier.
The choir, the side chapels and the sculpted exterior decoration thus make up a particularly rich artistic ensemble, which is worth taking the time to visit.
The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Véran, bishop of Cavaillon in the sixth century, whose figure deeply marks the identity of the place.
Saint Véran is often represented as a bishop or as a pilgrim, with a dragon at his feet. Legend has it that he captured a dragon that terrorized the inhabitants of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, before finally driving him away.
Beyond the legendary story, this image symbolizes the victory of Christianity over the ancient beliefs still present in the region at that time. This story is particularly important in local religious memory.
A painting by Pierre Mignard dated 1657, exhibited in the chapel dedicated to Saint Véran, illustrates this episode. This work is one of the remarkable elements to be discovered during the visit.
The cathedral also deserves to be observed from the small squares and streets that surround it, where several remarkable architectural elements are revealed to the eye.
The pentagonal apse, decorated with arches, small columns and sculpted capitals, elegantly illustrates the Romanesque vocabulary of the building. In particular, we find the acanthus leaf motif, recurring on several monuments in Cavaillon.
Not far from the bell tower, a sculpted sundial dating from 1764 also draws attention. It represents Time in the guise of an old man holding an hourglass, accompanied by a Latin inscription with a strong symbolic meaning.
Near the apse, there is also the bell tower, a square tower ending with a clock. The visible bell, dated 1496, is among the oldest in the department and continues to punctuate the life of the ancient center.
The Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran church, a former cathedral, is located in the historic center of Cavaillon, at the foot of Saint-Jacques Hill.
It was classified as a Historic Monument in two stages: the cathedral is on the 1840 list, then the cloister on the 1862 list.
The vast restoration work undertaken between 2020 and 2024 has made it possible to restore all its luster to this exceptional heritage complex, which is now more legible and more welcoming for visitors.
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Practical information on Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran Cathedral
Opening times and periods
From 02/05 to 30/09/2026 from Monday to Saturday between 9 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. Closed on Sunday.
Easter holidays: open Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm.
Price(s)
Free entry.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran Cathedral?
Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran Cathedral will open its doors to the public on 17 February 2025 (following major renovation work). You can visit from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm. Sundays are reserved for worship.
Is there a charge for admission to Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran Cathedral?
No, access is free during opening hours. A member of staff is on hand to help visitors.
When was Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran Cathedral built?
Situated in the heart of the old town, the Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran cathedral dates back to the late 11th century. It was heightened in the 12th century and enlarged between the 16th and 18th centuries with the addition of side chapels. Its cloister, a haven of peace and freshness, was built in the early 13th century.
