The thermal stability of rhodium on eerie oxides submitted to high-temperature reduction (773-1173 K) and aging in air at 1173 K was studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and benzene hydrogenation. Catalysts were prepared by anionic exchange of rhodium chloro complexes on both high (144 m(2)g(-1)) and low specific surface area ceria (6 m(2) g(-1)). In reducing conditions, both types of catalysts stabilized 5 nm metal rhodium particles. Calcination in air at 1173 K pointed out the interest of rhodium exchanged over a low surface precalcined ceria. In that case, all the metal remained at the surface of CeO2 after calcination whereas 50% of the initial supported metal was buried into sintered ceria for the catalyst prepared from the high-surface CeO2.