Vence - Cathédrale de la Nativité-de-Marie

Vence was known in Roman times as "Vintium". It was the seat of a bishop as early as 419. Parts of the cathedral date back to early Merovingian times.

The first church, built over the foundation of a Roman temple, was probably destroyed by the Lombards. It was rebuilt, damaged, destroyed many times over the century - and by now is a mixture of different styles from Carolingian to late baroque.

Shown on the backside of this medieval reliquary is the scene of the flagellation.