Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-de-l'Assomption de Vaison-la-Romaine, Medieval cathedral in Vaison-la-Romaine, France

Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-de-l'Assomption stands on the cliff edge in the upper town of Vaison-la-Romaine, its base forming part of the town rampart. The light-beige stone facade has a triangular pediment with a cross, a tall arched window above a wooden double door, and a rounded windowless mass to the right. A baroque entrance portal was added in 1776.

Construction began in 1464, when builders reused stones from a former chapel that had been dismantled. A local bishop later enhanced the building with an organ and chose it as his burial place.

The cathedral was long called Saint-Quenin, after the town's patron saint, a name widely used under the ancien régime. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Quenin and all saints. Since 1897 it has no longer served as a parish church; the lower-town Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth took over that role.

The cathedral has reopened following major restoration work and welcomes visitors for services and cultural events. Check ahead to find out if an event is scheduled, as this will affect when you can view the interior freely.

The 17th-century gilded wooden statue of Saint Joseph with the Christ Child and a painting of Saint Peter's repentance by Guillaume Grève were returned to the building after its 2015 restoration. A fresco of the Coronation of the Virgin on a chapel vault is still being consolidated, and the Fondation du patrimoine has opened an appeal for donations.