4 février 2012, Peyragudes

4 février 2012, Val Louron

A few Roman churches in the valley

The Vallée du Louron has, in particular, a number of Roman churches, in which 16th century paintings have been miraculously preserved. In effect, the isolation of the
territory protected the valley from the degradation that most churches suffered during the French Revolution.

 Church Saint Calixte de Cazaux Frechet

The legend: The Aragon knight Calixte and his cousin Mercurial came to the Louron area in the 10th century in order to fight the Moors. Arriving via the Col d’Azet, opposite the village of Cazaux Fréchet, Calixte crossed and recrossed the valley to make war alongside the inhabitants. After a terrible battle, he was slain by an enemy lance and his body laid on a flat stone, the burial place St Calixte. Despite his death, the battle was won and the inhabitants built a church in memory of this courageous knight.

 Description : The church of St Calixte has a unique nave being completed with a semi-circular Apse, with a chapel on the north side on a bell wall, containing a bell dated 1547.
It is classified as, an historic monument. 

Remarkable elements: Monumental paintings from 12th to 16th centuries, sculpture, painted ceilings from 1720, altar support from 18th century

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  Church Saint-Barthélémy de Mont

History: Annexed to the parish of St Calixte (Cazaux-Fréchet/Anéran-Camors). From the style of the southgate, it appears that the church was made in the 13th century. The building was transformed in the 16th century, with the construction of the north chapel, the enlargement of the bell wall to a large bell tower and important internal and external decorative work/wall paintings).
Important feature: Classic gateway a historic monument  from 1910
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Church Saint-Mercurial de Vielle Louron

History: Annexed to the parish of Adervielle, the church conserves the relics of the Aragon Knight, St Mercurial who died at Vielle Louron fighting against the Saracens in the first quarter of the 11th century. According to the tradition. Mercurial was the German cousin of St Calixte at Cazaux Fréchet/Anéran Camors. The church is to a large degree from the Roman era, notedly the massive eastern part, the nave and the north apse. This apse was separated at its north base and transformed into a sacristy in1595 the date inscribed on its lintel. The south facing windows of the nave were inserted in 1749. It is classed as an historic monument
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  Church Saint-Félix d'Armenteule

History: This south facing church which has a semi-circular apse from the Roman epoch and arcatures decorated in the “Lombard” style. The basic building resembles a vessel open to the south. It was consolidated in the 16th century by means of tall buttresses and decorated by enormous paintings.
Description: Roofed bell tower, false ribbed vault, “en lanches” on the south chapel.

Church Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Bareilles

History: Mentioned in the “pouille” of 1387 it is believed to have been reconstructed in1847.
The work of the architect JJ Latour was modified in 1848 by adding a semi-circular
eastern apse.
Suspended until 1852, the work was restarted but the stability of the new bell tower
meant that it had to be reconstructed in 1854. The new building was only finished
and decorated by the sculptor Joseph Nelly in 1857 (inscribed in the tympan close to
the entry).
Description: Rectangular building in granite stone with shale coating, slate tiles, with a half-covered eastern apse and bell tower with a polygonal roof above an entry passage. Three naves divided in three and separated by arcades with sculptured tops. A covered semi-circular apse covered with a “cul de four” nave and lower part in re-covered wood panelling.
Décor : Sculptures and paintings.

  Church de l’Invention-de-Saint-Etienne de Germ-Louron

History: A parish until the Concordat and then annexed to Loudenvielle, and subsequently to Loudervielle.
The church dates from the 16th century. The north side chapel dedicated to Notre Dame de Rosanne was built in 1597 for Juan Forga originally of Monzon in Aragon.
In 1726, the priest, Pierre Laforgue re-established a “chapelain-régent” and supported it from revenue based on rent The church was the object of a visit by the Bishop Antoine de Lastic in 1741.
The sacristry dates without doubt from the 18th century. 
 

Church Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Loudervielle

History: Annexed to Armenteule before the Revolution and then to Loudenvielle, finally became principal parish around 1870: Roman style church with a western elevation with a narrow arched bay and part of the wall decorated with “Lombard” style arcatures. It was the site of the Brotherhood of “Très St Sacremat” established by the Jesuit missionary Jean Fourcaud in October 1637. The north side and the sacristy were constructed in the 17th century. The inside was repainted in 1943/5.
Description: Flat eastern apse. Built in chalk stone with Lombard style arcatures.
Décor : sculptures

Sources :

Indicateur du Patrimoine, Vallée du Louron, Canton de Bordères-Louron par Pierre-Yves Corbel, Aurel Bongiu , Sylvie Decottignies et Olivier Renaudeau

Infos pratiques :  

The churches of the Valley du Louron are closed in order to protect against theft and vandalism. Opening schedules are organised in the summer and are listed in the programme of the valley. The rest of the year, for all group visits you must consult the Tourist Office or the Association Memoire des Vallées. Finally, the l'Arixo museum at Loudenvielle offers interactive visits covering the history of the churches and of the frescoes and paintings.