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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel of Sollies City is a medieval religious building built between the late 11th and early 12th centuries by the order of Dominicans. Located in the Var department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, it is part of the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon. Its original architecture, with two parallel naves of equal width, allowed to simultaneously celebrate two separate offices, one for the laity and the other for the Jacobin brothers. The inner proportions are in a double square, with a height equal to the width (11.80 m) and a double length (22.76 m).

The current bell tower, added much later in 1661, contrasts with the medieval structure. The church was classified as historic monuments in 1846, recognizing its exceptional heritage value. Among its remarkable elements is an organ whose buffet, built by Antonius Millani in 1499, is one of the oldest in France. Two statues, representing Saint Loup (17th century) and Sainte Anne (18th century), complete this furniture classified or inscribed with historical monuments.

The architecture of the church is characterized by 13-metre-high central pillars, various arches (broken arches, diagonal arches, double arches), and a three-way portal. The high curved windows and oculi bring natural light to the building. This monument illustrates both Provencal Romanesque art and the liturgical adaptations of the Dominican order, while at the same time testifying to the architectural evolution over centuries.

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