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Origin and history

The chapel Saint-Julien-de-la-Motte de Lacour, located in the Tarn-et-Garonne, is a religious building whose origins date back to at least the eleventh century. It was first mentioned in 1048 when Bernard de Beauville, bishop of Agen, donated it to the abbey of Saint-Maurin. This chapel, in Romanesque style, features a vaulted apse in cul-de-four and a lambrissed nave, with counter-shaped windows. Its bell tower, characteristic with its mitre bow, overlooks the west wall.

Before 1698, the chapel was attached to the archpried of Tournon and served as a parish church until the French Revolution. The present building, mainly Romanesque, may date back to the 12th century, although some parts, such as the bell tower gable, seem to date back to the 17th century. Disused today, it was classified as Monument Historique by decree of 15 July 1971 and now belongs to the commune of Lacour.

Architecturally, the chapel is distinguished by its lower apse than the nave, its three narrow Romanesque windows and its bell tower with a single arcade. These elements reflect the characteristics of the medieval rural churches in Occitanie. The chapel thus illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of the region, from its parish role to its contemporary dislocation.

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