Eglise Saint Baudile

Noves - Cultural place

The present church is known to be built on the site of a Roman place of worship. The first Christian chapel was built there in the 10th century. All that remains of the 12th century Romanesque church is the semi-circular apse, followed by a window surmounted by a cupola which supports a bell tower and a nave with three vaulted broken barrel bays.
The church was extended circa 1430; two north and south aisles were added, each with two bays, forming a transept, and the entry door was extended to the south (Gothic-style additions). The 17th century saw the construction of the western gallery and a sacristy to the south-east of the chevet. In the 18th century, the north and south chapels were added to the arms of the transept. Saint Baudile Chapel houses wood panelling enshrining canvases which portray episodes from the life of Saint Baudile. Haphazard lateral chapels added subsequently (17th to 20th centuries) have marred the appearance of this exceptional church.
Architectural description
This church has Provençal Romanesque features, such as a stone paving roof and a broken barrel vault. The chancel is topped with an octagonal dome mounted on squinches. The Romanesque section was built by the same masons who extended the fortified castle. The roofs are made of layered slate stone. The olive wood crucifix of the main altar is the work of the sculptor Charles Toni (born in Noves in 1916, died in Nîmes in 1992).

• Car park
• Free

Information provided by OT Terre de Provence