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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Michel du Vieux-Canet is a 11th-century religious building, located in the heart of the medieval village of Cannet-des-Maures, in the Var (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). Built in limestone, it was completed in 1027 and dedicated to Saint Michael. Its Romanesque architecture is characterized by a blind nave of 16 meters long, without transept but with two side chapels. The bell tower, erected at the beginning of the 12th century, is surmounted by a wrought iron campanile offered in 1746 by parishioners and the Marquis de Colbert. The clock, added in 1776, crown the ensemble. A consecration stone adorned with a patted cross and two figures surmounts the front door.

The church underwent restorations in the 17th century, especially after the Wars of Religion, with the addition of a lateral chapel in 1663. Classified as a historic monument in 1862, it houses a Child's Virgin made of fig wood, carved by a shepherd, as well as liturgical furniture bearing witness to its history. Depending on the parish of Saint Joseph in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, it plays a central role in the spiritual and community life of the village, perched on a rocky piton overlooking the Maures plain. Its mix of styles — primitive novel and Baroque elements — reflects the architectural and religious evolutions of the region.

The site, owned by the commune, is situated in a preserved medieval setting, with narrow alleys and stone houses. The campanile, a work of ironwork from the 18th century, illustrates the local craftsmanship and patronage of elites, such as the Colbert family. The church remains a symbol of religious resilience after the conflicts of the 16th-17th centuries, while embodying the historical identity of the Moorish country, between Provence and the Mediterranean.

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