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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint Peter, located in the hamlet of Prouilhac in Gourdon, presents a nave partially dated from the 12th century, identifiable by its apparatus and the shapes of its door and window. These elements suggest a Romanesque origin, although the site is associated with an older foundation, potentially of the ninth century. The neo-classical portal, open to the south, was added in the mid-19th century, reflecting a modernization of the building.

The square bedside supports a massive bell tower retaining wooden consoles in the upper part, remains of a medieval height probably dated the fourteenth century. This defensive system testifies to the strategic importance of the church at that time. Two side chapels, added at the end of the 15th century, illustrate the influence of local lords: the northern chapel, decorated with ivy vaults and thirdons, carries smooth shields attributed to Cornil, lords of Prouilhac, as indicated by the hunting horns carved on a capital.

The southern chapel is home to the traces of a 17th century funeral liter, displaying the coat of arms of the Durfort-Boissières and Cardaillac-Themines (16th century). These heraldic elements underline the alliances and prestige of noble families linked to the building. Polls have also revealed a shield potentially associated with the Sudrie, co-signors from 1613, confirming the seigneurial and memorial dimension of the place.

Classified as a Historical Monument in 2021, the church is now a communal property. Its composite architecture, combining Roman, Gothic and Neoclassical, reflects almost a millennium of religious and social history in Quercy. The accuracy of its location remains moderate (level 6/10), but its approximate address is fixed at 67 Rue de la Vierge in Gourdon.

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