Construction of college 1329–1335 (≈ 1332)
By decision of Cardinal Bertrand du Pouget.
1690
Installation of organ
Installation of organ 1690 (≈ 1690)
Work of the Jullien brothers, from Avignon.
24 décembre 1847
First of the Midnight, Christians*
First of the Midnight, Christians* 24 décembre 1847 (≈ 1847)
Interpreted with the organ of the college.
1997
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 1997 (≈ 1997)
Official protection of the building.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Church (Box AH 340): Registration by decree of 28 January 1997
Key figures
Bertrand du Pouget (ou Poujet) - Cardinal
Sponsor of the college in the 14th century.
Placide Cappeau - Author of the lyrics
Created *Minuit, Christians*, native of Roquemaure.
Barthélemy et Honoré Jullien - Organ factors
Organ builders in 1690.
Origin and history
The collegiate Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste de Roquemaure, located in the Gard department in the Occitanie region, were built between 1329 and 1335 under the impulse of Cardinal Bertrand du Pouget. This monument illustrates the influence of the Papal Court of Avignon on the lower Rhône valley in the 14th century. Its architecture, partially redesigned in the 19th century (including the vault), preserves remains of its original medieval structure. The building was registered with the Historical Monuments in 1997 and remains owned by the municipality of Roquemaure.
The interior houses a remarkable organ, transferred from the convent of the Cordeliers of Avignon and built in 1690 by the brothers Barthélemy and Honoré Jullien. This instrument, considered one of the most important sets of pipes of the seventeenth century, is linked to the history of Minuit, Christians: the first interpretation of this Christmas song took place in this collegiate on 24 December 1847, with words written by Placide Cappeau, a native of Roquemaure.
The monument thus reflects both the medieval religious heritage, the Baroque musical heritage and a page of French popular culture, through a place still open to the visit today.
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