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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of the Sacred Heart of Rodez was built between 1886 and 1898 to meet the spiritual needs of the growing urban suburbs. The architect Henri Pons, inspired by the Abbey of Sainte-Foy de Conques, designed a neo-Roman style building, typical of the 19th century, with a Latin cross and an apse flanked by staggered chapels. A first modest church, Saint-Cyrice, built around 1852-1866 near a cemetery, proved insufficient in the face of population growth.

The construction was launched in 1886 under the impetus of Bishop Bourret, with a first stone laid in September this year. The site, marked by sculpture works like the seven capitals realized by Couderc in 1888, was completed in 1898 with the consecration of the church. The building is distinguished by its octagonal tower-lantern above the transept, its limestone facades, and an interior decor dominated by mosaics and sculptures.

Ranked a historical monument in 2005, this church illustrates the influence of medieval pilgrimage churches on 19th century religious architecture. Its plan, its vaulted sides, and its dome on trunks reflect a desire for greatness and symbolism, while integrating into the urban landscape of Ruthenian. The two square towers surrounding the facade, surmounted by stone arrows, reinforce its imposing and sacred character.

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