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Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy dans le Tarn-et-Garonne

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Collégiale
Eglise gothique
Tarn-et-Garonne

Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy

    Le Bourg
    82270 Montpezat-de-Quercy
Ownership of the municipality
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Collégiale Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy
Crédit photo : Oxxo - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
1337
Construction of college
1343
Building construction
après 1544
Burial of Antoine de Lettes
début XVIe siècle
Flemish tapestries offered
1840
Historical monument classification
1956
Registration of canonical houses
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Collegiate: ranking by list of 1840; Facades and roofs of wood-paned houses surrounding the bedside of the former collegiate church (see Box C 1529, 1532, 1533, 1536, 1537, 1537p, 1540, 1541, 1545-1548): entry by order of 16 August 1956

Key figures

Pierre des Prés - Cardinal and founder Vice-Chancellor, sponsor of the college.
Jean des Prés - Bishop of Castres Neve of Peter, lying in the choir.
Jean IV - Bishop of Montauban Donor of Flemish tapestries.
Antoine de Lettes - Marshal of France Lord of Montpezat, buried here.

Origin and history

The collegiate Saint-Martin de Montpezat-de-Quercy, located in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne, was built in 1337 under the impulse of Cardinal Pierre des Prés, vice-chancellor of the Roman Church and native of the city. The building, probably designed by an architect of the Papal Court of Avignon, was consecrated in 1343. Its architecture combines a unique nave flanked by chapels and a five-paned apse, vaulted by dogives, while the arch keys bear the coat of arms of its founder.

The college houses exceptional heritage features, including 15th century stalls and five Flemish tapestries from the early 16th century, offered by John IV, bishop of Montauban. These tapestries, still in place, illustrate episodes of Saint Martin's life. The choir also welcomes the laymen of Pierre des Prés and his nephew, Jean des Prés, bishop of Castres. The building, classified as early as 1840, is surrounded by wooden houses, former canon houses, registered in 1956.

The church, built of local limestone, has a rosaceous eight lobes above the gate and a square bell tower flanked by a polygonal turret. Inside, there is a 14th-century alabaster statue, 15th-century wooden boxes, and alabaster plates from a Nottingham altarpiece. Several side chapels are decorated with panelling and paintings from the early eighteenth century, made by artists from Moissac and Tours.

Antoine de Lettes, Marshal of France and Lord of Montpezat, was buried there after 1544. The collegiate, owned by the commune, bears witness to the religious and architectural importance of Montpezat-de-Quercy, linked to its medieval past and its role in the region. Recent research, such as that published in 2017 and 2024, continues to enrich the knowledge of this monument and its artistic treasure.

The houses surrounding the bedside, with their wooden communication galleries, recall the medieval canonical organization. These houses, whose facades and roofs are protected, complement the architectural complex. The college, always open to visit, remains a rare example of in situ preservation of liturgical and decorative elements of the era, such as tapestries or stalls.

External links