Floor plan of the Cathedral showing the irregular nature of its final form.

For our second visit to Aix-en-Provence, we entered into the old city from the North via the Rue de la Rogue. A little down the road, on the left, is the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d'Aix-en-Provence, which is a fascinating building, varied in architecture due to the additions made to it over time. It has a rather irregular design compared to the usual crucifix form that churches usually take as it  has been expanded sideways in several directions. The Cathedral has distinctive Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque sections.

The first incarnation of what is now the Cathedral, was a church, built in the 4th century of a Romaneque design within a Roman forum, part of which you can see as you come in, on the right. The Cathedral proper was built in the 14th century and includes to its side the Roman church, within which is a baptistry, to become an integral part of the newer Cathedral. Within the  bapistry, there is a font, which is surrounded by Roman columns and the outer walls are surrounded with dark, but atmospheric paintings typical of the period.

In the Gothic sections further in, there are two large green faced organs. Further additions to the Cathedral were made until the 17th century. The various naves are decorated in varying and distinct styles

The Catherdral has beautiful paintings and carvings throughout and is famous for a triptych of the burning bush by Nicolas Froment, which has recently been restored. Unfortunately, the flaps of the paintng were closed to prevent deteriotation and are only opened for a limited period during the week. Nevertheless, there is plenty of other excellent artwork to be seen.

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