Frejus - Cathédrale Saint-Léonce

A settlement existed here before the Romans arrived. Caesar promoted the place, which was consequently called "Forum Julii". The name eventually became the place name, which has survived to this day abraded.

Emperor Augustus increased the importance of the place when he established here the Colonia Octaviorum. An amphitheater and other structures can still be seen.

In 572 the Lombards devastated the Frejus. The siltation of the harbor was accompanied by the decline of the city. Between the 7th and the 9th centuries, Muslim invaders repeatedly raided the city.

Fréjus' resurgence began in the 10th century under the leadership of the city's bishops. He started the erection of the cathedral amd had the city fortified. In 1471, the city counted 266 inhabited houses, but a pirate raid in 1475 led to destruction of the city again.

Of course Frejus is a touristic place meanwhile, but other than neighbouring Cannes, it still has a very "french" flair, with a lot of locals drinking pastis in the sidewalk cafes.

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The oldest survivig structure of the Cathedral Saint-Léonce is the octagonal baptistery dating to Merovingian time of the 5th century.

Inside the baptistery. Eight eight antique Corinthian columns were reused. They probably were taken from a Roman building.