Cathedral N-D de l'Immaculée Conception (Antibes): visit

Visiting Old Antibes? Don’t miss the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Located next to the Picasso Museum, its colorful facade caught our eye. We were pleasantly surprised by the remarkable furnishings we found inside. We were particularly impressed by the recumbent statue of Christ.

Here are our practical tips for planning your visit to Antibes Cathedral.

This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.

Content

Is a visit to the Cathedral of Notre Dame de l’immaculée Conception worthwhile?

What you can see

Notre-Dame de l’Immaculée Conception Cathedral, Antibes: how to get there

Practical tips for visiting the Cathedral Notre Dame de l’immaculée Conception

Is a visit to the Cathedral of Notre Dame de l’immaculée Conception worthwhile?

Absolutely! Built a stone’s throw from the sea on the remains of a Roman temple dedicated to the goddesses Diana and Minerva, it was destroyed and altered over the centuries, until its complete renovation in 1991. Listed as a historic monument, it boasts a particularly rich array of furnishings. Located next to the Picasso Museum, it would be a shame to miss out!

This is one of the best places to visit in Antibes.

WHERE TO STAY IN Antibes

Option 1: near the ramparts

Near the city walls, where you can enjoy the charm of the old town and all the restaurants.
Hotel la Villa Port – prices, pictures and availability

Near the beaches (Ponteil and Salis), with views of the ramparts and the mountains.
Hotel La Jabotte – prices, pictures and availability

In Juan-les-Pins, in the heart of the peninsula.
Hotel La Villa Cap d’Antibes – prices, pictures and availability

See our complete selection of the best hotels in Antibes

See all accommodations available on your dates >>.

What you can see

A colorful façade

With its orange and red tones, set off by white cornices and pilasters, the cathedral’s façade was a real eye-catcher. In very poor condition, it was completely reworked during the restoration of the monument, so this composition cannot be considered Baroque or Classical.

A beautiful 18th-century door

As we entered the building, we took time to admire its beautiful carved wooden door. It was built in 1710 by Joseph Dolle, a master carpenter based in Antibes. The figures of the pilgrim Saint-Roch and the Roman martyr Saint-Sébastien are depicted. They are both protectors of the city of Antibes.

A massive 19th-century organ

As we strolled through the nave, it occurred to us to turn around and admire the cathedral’s organ. This massive structure was built in 1860 by Master Jungh. Can you distinguish its decorative elements?

Remarkable altars

Altar and altarpiece of Sainte-Réparate, reliquary bust of Sainte Justa de Sevilla.

The cathedral is home to a number of listed altars. They contain statues and altarpieces, also listed. Our favorite was the altar and altarpiece of Sainte-Réparate. Although two statues were covered, we were able to admire the reliquary bust of Saint Justa of Sevilla, in polychrome plaster, set against a spectacular background of carved and gilded wood.

Altarpiece of the Virgin of the Rosary, 16th century

The building is also known for its altarpiece of the Virgin of the Rosary. It was painted around 1513 by the Italian painter Louis Bréa, who was very active in Nice. Take your time to admire it, as there are very few surviving representations of this type in their entirety. Below the altarpiece, you’ll find an explanatory panel to help you understand all the scenes that make it up.

A large baptistery

We were impressed by this egg-shaped baptistery, dating from 1722 and listed as a historic monument. The lid is in bronze, while the foot is in solid marble. We’d never seen a baptistery quite like it!

The recumbent statue of the Dead Christ

View of the recumbent statue of Christ the Dead.

You can’t leave the cathedral without seeing this recumbent statue of Christ the Dead, in polychrome limewood. It dates back to the 17th century and was found in 1938 during work on a wall to the right of the choir! It is also a listed historic monument.

Notre-Dame de l’Immaculée Conception Cathedral, Antibes: how to get there

Where is the cathedral?

The cathedral is located on rue Saint-Esprit, in the Old Antibes district.
It’s a 5-minute walk from the city center, 10 minutes from the port.

Access by car and parking

Parking is difficult in the vicinity of the cathedral, which is located in the old town. We recommend parking in a pay parking lot. Q-Park Pré aux Pécheurs and Q-Park La Poste are a 10-minute walk away.

OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence

Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
Remember to take outcomprehensive insurance (some roads are winding and narrow).
There is a lot of demand, book it early.

See the cars

See our tips

Public transport access

The cathedral is close to many bus routes. A 10-minute walk takes you to the “Place Guynemer” stop, served by lines 5, 7, 10, 14 and 16. We recommend that you consult the transport network map on the official website here.

Visiting difficulties

The tour is not particularly difficult. However, there are no special facilities for people with reduced mobility.

A LITTLE MORE patience

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Practical tips for visiting the Cathedral Notre Dame de l’immaculée Conception

Schedules and prices

This building is freely accessible. It is open daily from 8am to 12pm and from 3pm to 7pm. However, we advise against choosing opening and closing times, as well as Sundays, due to religious services. To find out more about mass times, visit the official website here.

How long

Allow around 30 minutes to admire this monument and its furnishings.

Best moment

We advise you to visit in the morning to minimize the number of visitors, especially during the summer months. As the cathedral is located next to one of Antibes’ main tourist attractions, the Musée Picasso, it can get quite crowded.

PLAN YOUR STAY IN Antibes

Direction of visit

There’s no direction of travel. We recommend that you follow this tour with a visit to the Musée Picasso.

Eating out

Numerous restaurants are located close to the cathedral. To find out which one to choose, read our article on the best restaurants to eat in Antibes!