The early Christian baptistery of Fréjus was built between the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th century. It is one of the oldest in France. Thus, it bears witness to the beginning of Christianity in the region.
The Baptistery of Fréjus: sacred architecture and history of baptism
At the time, this sacrament was reserved for adults and was celebrated particularly during the Easter festival, with an immersion in a large central basin. This gesture marked the passage from a sinful life to a new life.
The granite columns, some from Turkey or Asia Minor, support marble capitals from Carrara or Proconnese (present-day Marmara Island).
These columns, of exceptional care, tell the story of sacred architecture, where ancient heritage blends with Christian spirituality.
Although the mosaics and marble ornaments have disappeared over time, the baptistery retains a majestic structure in Esterel sandstone and decorative bricks.
Its dome, restored by the architect Jules Formigé in the 20th century, and the wrought iron gates installed by the Bishop of Fleury reveal the history of this thousand-year-old place which remains a living place of worship and still hosts baptisms today, where the heritage of the past blends with contemporary faith.
Fréjus is not only a city of history, but a place where the traces of time are experienced and celebrated, through a monument which, although thousands of years old, remains a living symbol of the Christian faith.
