Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

The Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption is a Romanesque church built from local tuff stone and located in the center of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. It features a five-level bell tower with paired openings and reinforced supports that give the structure its solid appearance.

Monks from Lérins founded the original monastery in the 5th century, but attacks from Saracens forced them to abandon it until the 11th century. This long gap between departure and return shaped how the building developed later.

A white marble altar from the 4th century sits inside, decorated with carved scenes including the crossing of the Red Sea. This ancient artifact gives the interior a distinctive spiritual presence.

The church sits in the center of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a village known as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, making it easy to reach on foot. You can combine your visit with a stroll through the village's charming streets.

The Gothic choir added in 1336 by Prior Pierre de Pratis was intentionally built at an angle to the older Romanesque nave. This deliberate misalignment is a rare design choice that most visitors walk past without noticing.

Location: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

GPS coordinates: 43.84728,6.22209

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:23