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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Sainte-Fauste d'Aboul church, located in Bozouls in the department of Aveyron (Occitanie region), is a religious building dating back to the 12th century. It was built by the Hospitallers, a religious and military order, to serve both their community and the inhabitants of their domain. Its initial architecture, marked by a nave of three vaulted bays in a cradle and a salient transept, reflects the Romanesque characteristics of the period. The western portal, decorated with capitals carved of interlaces and foliage, as well as a cross surmounted by a hand of justice framed by lions' heads, testify to an artistic and symbolic know-how unique to this period.

During the 4th quarter of the 19th century, the church underwent major structural changes. In 1878, the octagonal tower of the bell tower was raised and raised, as was the high parts of the side walls, the transept and the bedside. These changes were probably aimed at modernizing or strengthening the building, while preserving its historic character. The church was finally listed as historic monuments on December 7, 1987, specifically for its exterior decoration, thus highlighting its heritage value.

The building is also distinguished by its semicircular apse, illuminated by three bays, and its lateral chapels sheltered in the arms of the transept. These architectural elements, combined with its history related to the Hospitallers, make it a remarkable witness to the medieval religious heritage and its evolution in modern times. Today, the church belongs to the municipality of Bozouls and remains an emblematic place of the region, open to visit and anchored in the local cultural landscape.

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