Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame des Carmes, built in 1297 by the Order of Carmes in Carcassonne, served as a place of worship for the religious and inhabitants of the neighborhood. After the fire caused by the Black Prince in 1355, it was rebuilt in 1370 in a southern Gothic style. The building, marked by a single nave and a polygonal choir, became a symbol of the Carmelite presence in the region.

Over the centuries, the church underwent major changes, notably in the 19th century with the addition of Baroque elements and the decoration painted by Joseph Engalières between 1851 and 1877. The frescoes celebrate emblematic figures of the Order of the Carmelites, such as Elijah, Thérèse of Avila and John of the Cross, while 14th century sculptures remain in the nave.

Disused after the French Revolution, the church was used as a warehouse or court before being restored and classified as a historical monument in 2014. Today, adjoining the headquarters of the diocese of Carcassonne and Narbonne, it is the subject of restoration campaigns, with works planned in 2025 to consolidate the building after a dispute between the bishopric and the municipality.

Its bell tower, added in the 19th century, and its stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes or saints, make it a major architectural and artistic witness. The chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, with its painted ceiling, and the arched foothills, illustrate the richness of its Gothic Languedoc heritage.

The exact address of the building, located at 62-64 rue Georges-Clemenceau, and its ranking in 2014 underline its heritage importance. Property shared between a diocesan association and a private company, it remains an emblematic place of the religious and cultural history of Carcassonne.

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