Église Saint Symphorien (Saint Symphorien Church), Avignon

The Saint Symphorien Church, located on the Carmelite Square (Place des Carmes) in Avignon, has a storied history marked by transformations and resilience. Originally established as a conventual church for the Grand Carmelites who settled outside the city's walls in 1267, it underwent significant reconstruction beginning in 1320 under Pope John XXII, with ongoing support from Pope Clement VI. The church was finally consecrated on April 10, 1520, becoming one of Avignon's largest churches.

However, a major collapse on May 20, 1672, left only the facade, choir, and side chapels intact. Reconstruction began promptly and was completed by July 9, 1678. During the French Revolution, the Grand Carmelites were expelled, and the church served as a venue for public meetings and the headquarters of the Avignon Jacobins Club, sparing it from demolition, unlike the neighboring Grands Augustins convent.

In 1803, the church was repurposed as the parish church of Saint-Symphorien, taking on the name and functions of the original Saint-Symphorien church, which had been demolished. Noteworthy for its historical significance, parts of the Carmes convent's cloister were classified as historic monuments in 1928, and the church itself was listed as a historic monument on November 7, 1932.

Architecturally, the church's facade reflects the simplicity appropriate for a mendicant order, with a main door flanked by pinnacles and a small rose window. The structure, characteristic of southern Gothic designs, features a vast nave lined with non-communicating side chapels and lacks aisles, a transept, or an ambulatory. The interior is defined by high Doric pilasters and large semi-circular arcades. The framework remained visible until 1836, when the current semi-circular vaulted ceiling was constructed in brick, completing the church's distinctive and enduring presence in Avignon's architectural landscape.