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Origin and history

The Collège Notre-Dame-de-l'Assumption de Bédouès, located in the upper Tarn valley in Lozère, was built in the 14th century on the initiative of Pope Urbain V. The latter, born Guillaume de Grimoard in Gevaudan in 1310, became pope in 1362 after the death of Innocent VI. In December 1363 he ordered by a pontifical bubble the construction of this collegiate to install his parents' tomb on a promontory overlooking the Tarn. Six canons, a deacon and a subdeacon were appointed to celebrate the office there as early as 1365.

The collegiate church, built in shale, adopted a form of Latin cross and was quickly fortified with four towers and a wall, offering refuge to the inhabitants in case of conflict. In 1580, during the Wars of Religion, Huguenot Captain Matthieu Merle took over, massacring the canons and destroying part of the building. After peace, it was rebuilt, but was further degraded during the French Revolution.

In the 19th century, the bishopric undertook repairs, and in 1854, Father Couderc restored his original dimensions to the Latin cross. The ensemble consisted of two distinct parts: the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the house of the Canons. The exterior, sober, has the coat of arms of Urbain V, while the interior is richly decorated. The destruction of Merle had reduced its size to a Greek cross, before its definitive restoration.

The papal coat of arms, visible on the tympanum, recall the origin of its foundation: Gules, to the chief emanated from four gold pieces, symbol of the family of Grimoard enriched with papal keys. This monument, both religious and defensive, illustrates the influence of Urbain V in its native region and the historical tumults it has passed through.

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