Protection of remains 23 octobre 1995 (≈ 1995)
Order to record the remains searched and buried.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Baptistery, a part of the supposed church and its annexes, as well as the remains still buried adjacent to the basilica to the south and extending to private plots AN 129, 131, 133 to 135 and to the west to the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville (cad. not cadastré, public domain): inscription by order of 23 October 1995
Key figures
Information non disponible - No characters cited in the sources
The data do not mention sponsors or related historical figures.
Origin and history
The Baptistery of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, dating from the beginning of the 6th century, is part of the continuity of a first church, which was renovated in the 11th and 12th centuries. This paleo-Christian monument, rare in Provence-Alpes-Côte d的Azur, illustrates the transition between late antiquity and the Middle Ages, with an architecture dedicated to the ritual of baptism. Its construction precedes centuries the construction of the current basilica, built in the 13th century in immediate proximity.
Archaeological excavations revealed remains buried south of the basilica, extending to private plots and the square of the City Hall. These discoveries include annexes of the early church, protected by ministerial decree in 1995. The site, a communal property, thus preserves material traces of the first Christian communities in the region, although its exact location is considered "passable" (note 5/10) by available sources.
The Baptistery, classified as a Historical Monument, embodies an unknown but essential religious heritage to understand the implantation of Christianity in Provence. Its partial state of conservation and its integration into the modern urban fabric underline the challenges of its preservation. Current data do not mention original sponsors or precise liturgical uses, leaving some mystery about its daily history.
