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Origin and history

The Collège de la Conversion-de-Saint-Paul, now Saint Paul parish church, is a Catholic church located in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Alpes-Maritimes. Built at the highest point of the medieval castrum, it adjoins the remains of the seigneurial castle, of which there remains a tower now occupied by the town hall. The village initially had two poles: the castrum and a dwelling area around the old church of Saint Michael, perhaps before the castle. No archive specifies the foundation of Saint Paul's church, but its initial structure (a single carpentry nave and vaulted square choir in a broken cradle) suggests a construction between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century, according to historian Jean-Claude Poteur.

The enlargement of the church by the addition of collaterals, undated with precision, could go back to the late Middle Ages or early 16th century. The northern collateral, initially un arched, was later modified, its bays being condemned by brick vaults. A bell tower, mentioned in 1671, overhanged the first span of the northern collateral before collapsing in the early eighteenth century, partially destroying the nave. This collapse would be linked to the fragility of the walls, not designed to withstand such a weight. The current bell tower, erected in 1740 next to the southern collateral, was partly financed by Flodoard Moret de Bourchenu, the resigned bishop of Vence, as attests a commemorative plaque.

The assembly of the church into a collegiate church in 1666 by Bishop Antoine Godeau, despite the opposition of the inhabitants and the chapter, marked a turning point. The number of priests rose from 3 to 12, and the furniture became rich, especially with the stalls of the choir (1668). Two chapels were added hors-œuvres: the chapel Saint-Mathieu, aligned with the southern collateral before 1654, and the chapel Saint-Clément (1681), built thanks to the brothers Bernardi, including Jean-Baptiste, canon influence in Rome. In 1710, the oculus of the facade was replaced by a window, and in 1740 the central nave was raised and arched, while retaining its original double arches.

The furniture includes major works, such as La Conversion de Saint Paul (circa 1680) by Sébastien Canavesi, or a painting by Saint Catherine of Alexandria (17th century, attributed to various painters including Claudio Coello). The fraternity of the Rosary, founded in 1588 at the request of Bishop Godeau, provided the church with an altar and a altarpiece representing the mysteries of the Rosary and Saint Dominique. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1921, the collegiate church illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of a Provençal village, from medieval origins to Baroque embellishments.

The successive transformations — enlargements, partial reconstruction after the collapse of the bell tower, addition of chapels — reflect the liturgical needs and the growing prestige of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The archives also mention conflicts, such as opposition to collegiate erection (1671), or practical adaptations, such as the demolition of the old communal palace to build the Saint Clement chapel. These elements underline the central role of the church in community life, between episcopal power, local patronage and popular devotions.

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