Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Our Lady of Alban, mentioned in 1671, finds its roots in a parish past marked by notable baptisms, such as that of Jean Pujol in 1699 or Dominique-Cécile Cadalen in 1751, sponsored by Archbishop Dominique de La Rochefoucauld. Several priests, including Amiel, Jean Alary and Pierre Routolp, served there between the 17th and 18th centuries, although their exact dates of exercise remain uncertain. A 15th century golden wooden Virgin and a classified Romanesque cross bear witness to her ancient heritage.

The current building, rebuilt in the 19th century, owes its contemporary physiognomy to a major restoration carried out between 1938 and 1972 under the direction of architect Bruno Schmeltz. In particular, he conceived the great claustra symbolizing "the assault of light towards the cross of Christ". The interior frescoes, made by Nicolas Greschny, take parishioners as models, while the stained glass and glass slabs are signed by the Balmet workshops (father and son) and Raymond Clerq-Roques. This work is valid in the church for its inscription in historical monuments by order of 20 April 2001.

Classified for its architectural ensemble (cadastre AK 156), the church belongs to the municipality of Alban. Its official address, 6 Place de l'Église, and its Insee code (81003) place it in the department of Tarn, in Occitanie region. The building, still in cult activity, illustrates the fusion between medieval heritage, modern sacred art and community engagement, as evidenced by local artistic contributions and the preservation of ancient elements.

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