Church of Cabalsault à Castelculier dans le Lot-et-Garonne

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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Cabalsault, originally dedicated to Saint Roch and then to Notre-Dame, is a 12th century Romanesque church located in the valley of Roucal, on the commune of Castelculier (Lot-et-Garonne). His name appeared in 1326 in the Accounts of the Decimes under the name capella Equo-saltu, attesting to his seniority. The building, of modest dimensions (10 canes long according to Bishop Jules Mascaron in 1682), was restored after 1551 and laid. His history is marked by notable servants, including Matteo Bandello, successor of the cardinal of Lorraine at the bishopric of Agen.

In the 19th century, the church, which had become too small, was enlarged westward under the ministry of Abbé Belloc, thus moving its original bell tower to the centre of the present nave. This redesign explains his atypical plan, combining a four-column nave and an elevated choir decorated with floral motifs and fantastic animals. The stained glass windows, the work of Jean-Dominique Fleury, and a statue of Saint Roch with his dog (symbolizing the plague) bear witness to his artistic heritage. The adjoining cemetery houses the tomb of the Belloc family, linked to the nearby castle of the Sevilote.

Ranked a historic monument in 1926, the church of Cabalsault illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of the Agenais, mixing medieval heritage, modern modifications and remarkable decorative elements. Its inscription protects its carved columns, stained glass windows and its history linked to local ecclesiastical figures. The sources, including the works of Georges Tholin and Canon Durengues, underline his role in the Diocese of Agen under the Ancien Régime.

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