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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of the Nativity-de-la-Sainte-Vierge, located in Cirès in Haute-Garonne, is a Catholic religious building built in the 15th century. It illustrates the Gothic style of this period, with architectural elements such as a Romanesque bell tower to the west, surmounted by an acute arrow with cut-pans. Its polygonal plan, supplemented by a two-span nave and a side chapel, reflects the architectural evolutions of the 15th and 16th centuries. The semi-circular tympanum of the front door, the ogival door leading to the staircase facing the bell tower, as well as the carved cul-de-lampe, bear witness to an artisanal and artistic know-how of the time.

The church was listed as historic monuments on August 10, 1977, recognizing its heritage value. It is surrounded by a small cemetery and dominates the village of Cirès in the Oueil valley, offering a typical example of the medieval religious heritage of the region. Its Romanesque bell tower-wall, contrasting with Gothic additions, highlights stylistic transitions between periods.

Owned by the commune, the church retains protected elements, as mentioned in the 1977 registration order. Its architecture thus combines Romanesque and Gothic influences, typical of religious buildings built or rebuilt during the lower Middle Ages in Occitanie. The presence of a spiral staircase and ornamental sculptures reinforces its historical and artistic interest.

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