Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Maguelone

Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone

Built in the 12th century on an islet of the Languedoc coast by the bishops Galtier and then Jean de Montlaur, this cathedral enjoyed great prosperity before falling into decline after the episcopal see was transferred to Montpellier in 1536. It houses a 6th-century Visigothic sarcophagus nicknamed the sarcophagus "of the Belle Maguelonne", linked to a hugely popular medieval legend: that of Pierre de Provence and the fair Maguelonne, two lovers parted by fate and then miraculously reunited on this shore — a romance that enjoyed immense success from the late Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Getting there : Free admission; the island can be reached on foot

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound