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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Antonin de Levens, located in the Alpes-Maritimes, is mentioned for the first time in 1286 in the charter of Saint-Pons Abbey of Nice as a communal property. Its initial construction, prior to the 13th century, underwent major changes at the beginning of the 17th century, notably in its interior decoration and structure. The façade, which was rebuilt in the 20th century, was inspired by the cathedral of Monaco and used local stones, including those of the quarries of Sainte-Claire, a hamlet of Levens.

The frescoes of the vaults, dating from the 17th century, were restored in 1981-1982 by the frisquist Guy Ceppa. The building, inscribed in historical monuments since 1941, presents a three-nave basilical plan, separated by grey limestone pillars decorated with late Romanesque carved heads, including a famous "Levens smile". These architectural elements testify to its evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

The furniture includes major pieces: a pulpit of the late 16th century, two canvases of Jacques Bottero (1697) representing Saint Antonin, and a marble communion table of Carrara (1779). The organ, installed in 1898 by the Martella factor, comes from the former seminary of Nice. Among the cultural objects, the Virgin of the Veu, a polychrome wooden statue, commemorates the protection against an epidemic of 1735, with a ritual still celebrated today.

The church illustrates the religious and artistic history of the region, mixing medieval heritage, Baroque influences and local traditions. Its inscription as a historic monument underscores its heritage importance in the Alpes-Maritimes.

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