This stunning blue ceiling towers over the altar in the Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption in Entrevaux, France, a town of about 900 in the southern French Alps about 50km north of Nice.

It dates back to 1624 but no longer serves as a cathedral. That ended in 1790 after 166 years and it’s now a parish church – quite likely the most ornate for miles, thanks to that captivating altar of blue, red and gold.

The church sits at the easternmost edge of the old city, and is integrated into its famed fortification, which includes a bell tower added in 1690, which doubled as a defensive structure. Despite the thick walls, the position still lends a vulnerable feel to building’s 14-meter high southern wall, whose three stained glass windows –the only windows in the church– overlook the Var River valley.

Most of the paintings, sculptures and statues date from the late 17th to the early 19th centuries; a copper bust of John the Baptist is among the key pieces of its collection, along with its impressive organ which dates from 1717.

Two olive trees frame the outer edge of the courtyard where a pair of overfed cats serve on security patrol. Entrevaux is a busy place for day-trippers during the high season months, but on a late November weekend, we shared our visit with just one other couple. And a few Robins and Redstarts that dart between the buildings.

Nine more photos below. For more, see this Dignois.fr entry with a nice write-up (in French), history and selection of photos.

Photos from 29 November 2025.