An exceptional canonical complex

The canonical complex at Fréjus began to be built in the mid-13th century following disagreements between the chapter of canons, led by a provost, and the bishop under whose supervision they were.

This disagreement led the canons to move to the north of the cathedral, to an area that had been partially used as a cemetery and that had been redesigned to provide a flat site. The canons' buildings are arranged around a cloister.

Cathédrale Saint-Léonce de Fréjus, cloître vu du clocher
© Philippe Berthé / Centre des monuments nationaux

Canonical buildings

The north wing of the buildings housed the granary. A floor added in the 14th century was used as the chapter library in the 18th century.

The building to the west was considered to be the home of the provost .

The chapter house dates from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. It overlooks the cathedral vestibule to the south. In the 13th century, the hall was probably the canons' communal dormitory before being used as a chapter house.

In the cellar to the east, the canons stored oil and wine.

Cathédrale Saint-Léonce de Fréjus, cloître, galerie supérieure
© Philippe Berthé / Centre des monuments nationaux

The canons' enclosure was completed by an island of dwellings built on the site of the former cemetery. The existence of these dwellings was confirmed by the excavation of remains by archaeologists.

These houses, arranged around a central courtyard, were separated from the cathedral and the building to the east of the cloister by passageways. They were dependent on both the cathedral and the cloister.