Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of the Assumption of Donzac, located in the eponymous village of Occitanie, is a monument dating back to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Its most emblematic element is its bell tower, entirely built of bricks according to the Toulouse style characteristic of the region. This bell tower, dated from the first half of the 14th century, is distinguished by its truncated pyramidal arrow, its four corner bell towers connected by a balustrade, and its geminied bays adorned with brick columns and stone capitals. It is partly based on a diagonal arch cutting the first span of the building, showing a bold architecture for the time.

The history of the church is marked by property changes and major reconstructions. In 1216 it was transferred to the Abbey of Moissac, before passing under the guardianship of the monks of Belleperche in 1624. In the 19th century, the building underwent a radical transformation: it was rebuilt in 1834, and the nave was completely rebuilt in 1881 by the diocesan architect Theodore Olivier, in a neo-Gothic style. Only the medieval bell tower escapes these changes, thus preserving a rare architectural heritage. It is also classified as a Historical Monument by order of 30 April 1925, specifically protecting its structure (Cadastre B 64).

The rest of the church, although rebuilt, retains a central religious vocation for the local community. His dedication to Saint Michael, Saint Barthélémy and the Assumption reflects his historical spiritual anchor. The location of the building, at 1 Rue Saint-Barthélemy in Donzac (code Insee 82049), makes it a heritage landmark of the Tarn-et-Garonne, despite a cartographic accuracy considered only "a priori satisfactory" (note 6/10). The management of the monument is now the responsibility of the municipality, stressing its importance for the local identity.

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