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Visiting... la Lomagne |
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| Churches and châteaux |
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In Lomagne old stones tell thousands of stories, still alive in the middle of our colourful little valleys...
• Churches
• Châteaux
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THE CHURCHES OF LOMAGNE
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Notre Dame de l'Assomption
(Beaumont de Lomagne)
The town and the church are the same age: they were both built in 1280 thanks to Granselve abbey friars.
This church has been subjected to multiple destruction in the wars of Lomagne and France. It has been a fortress, a cathedral, a necropole, a fodder shop... It has, though, been refurbished lots of times.
In 1843 this church was classified as a "Monument Historique" by the writter Mérimée, Inspecteur Général des Monuments Historiques.
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Saint Pierre (Lachapelle)
Right from the beginning this church was the chapel for the castle, built in the XIIth-XIIIth centuries. It seems to have first been the property of l'Ordre du Temple, then, after its disappearance, of the Lords of Lomagne and Auvillar.
In the XVth century, during the Hundred Years' War, the original village was destroyed and a brand new village was built around the castle. The chapel became then the church of the village.
In 1761 Goulard brothers decided to create a wonderful baroque decoration for this unique church. They entrusted the work to Maraignon called Champaigne, a carpenter from Lectoure. The whole decoration was finished in 1776.
Click here for further information.
Opening periods & contact: click here.
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Sainte Marie Madeleine (Larrazet)
In XVIth century Johan de Cardailhac, the Abbot of Belleperche, ordered the building of a church with an unique hexagonal belltower and of a huge stone bridge.
In 1686, the village priest ordered the creation of an altarpiece to replace the polychrome decoration of the principal back wall of the church. A family of sculptors used a solid oak structure with a 60 m² surface to create this marvellous projet.
This wonderful altarpiece shows a very particular vision of the world and of the Bible stories.
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Saint Orens (Maubec)
The originality of this church lies in its facade with a huge belltower 34 m in height. It was destroyed by the Huguenots during the Wars of Religion in 1590.
Happily, after the classification of this church as a "Monument Historique", the outside restoration began in 1993. |
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Church of Grézas (Mansonville)
The place called Grézas is located in the town of Mansonville. It is an ancient Gallo-Roman site near to a Merovingian cemetery discovered at the end of XIXth century.
This is a Romanesque style church built in the XIIth century. It has been refurbished several times throughout the centuries. The interior of the church has been completely restored in 2006.
Walkers, St Jacques' pilgrims... you shouldn't miss visiting this place to admire:
- St Orens statue, parish patron saint.
- The bright colourful stained glass windows.
- The Merovigian style paintings.
Guided visits & contact
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THE CHÂTEAUX OF LOMAGNE
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Château de Gramont
Gramont castle was built in the XIVth century of very beautiful limestone over the ruins of a first castle of which only a fortified tower remains.
The current building has two distinct parts: a small Gothic castle (like structure at the entrance) and a Renaissance wing with delicately carved mullioned windows. The wing opens onto a courtyard with a geminated door giving onto a staircase with ribbed vaulting. A large hall takes up almost all of the first floor. A spiral staircase with no central newel leads to the oratory. All the rooms have been refurnished and decorated with period art objects. The terraced garden has also been re-landscaped. It dominates the rolling countryside of Lomagne.
Opening periodes, tarifs & contact: click here.
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Château de Larrazet
On 20 May 1500 Jean III de Cardailhac, abbot of Belleperche, ordered the building of this château. It dominates the Gimone valley and it was built over the ruins of a first castle (1187).
This castle has suffered the consequences of the different wars: the Hundred Years'War, the Wars of Religion... It was partially destroyed during the French Revolution. In 1791 was bought by someone who saved it from complete destruction.
It has a Gothic facade, a magnificient Renaissance staircase and very beautiful indoor sculptural decoration.
Opening periods & contact
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Château de Marsac (privé)
Marsac castle is placed on a hill. It has a tower dating from the XIth century and a Renaissance staircase very similar to Gramont and Larrazet ones.
A part of the castle was destroyed by order of Richelieu in the XVIIth century. In 1741, Melchior François de Reversat de Céles, councillor of Toulouse Parliament, became lord of Marsac. Its descendants, de Marsac family members, are still the owners of the castle.
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Château de Fours (Cumont) (privé)
This castle was built in the middle of the XVIth century. It has a Gothic facade and a Renaissance facade. Tradition talks about one of their owners, Jean Pothon de Xaintrailles, Jeanne d’Arc companion, but there's no official document which confirms this fact.
Today this castle is closed to the public for security reasons. |
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