The Romanesque cathedral was built in 1111 on the site of a 4th-century basilica, allegedly destroyed by the Saracens in 731 AD, of which no trace remains.
Its basic style is Provençal Romanesque, with touches influenced by Greek and Roman architecture and later additions in the Gothic and Baroque styles. Many of the inner chapels were added in the early 14th-century during the papacy of John XXII, the second of the Avignon Popes. In 1859, the bell tower was topped with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary and in the most recent renovations, 13th-century wall drawings and sculptures were uncovered behind layers of lime.
From the cathedral, the Promenade du Rocher-des-Doms leads you through its garden where there are wonderful views across the Rhône, towards Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.