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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Our Lady of Aulon, located in the village of Aulon in Haute-Garonne, is a religious building of Benedictine origin dating back to the 11th century. It was enlarged in the 12th century, and then equipped with an octagonal bell tower in Toulouse style in the 14th century, characteristic of regional architecture. The entrance, marked by a Renaissance gate dated 1566, bears witness to subsequent transformations, while restorations were undertaken in the 18th century. The interior, remodeled in 1898, preserves Romanesque elements such as carved capitals and a geminied bay.

The church consists of three naves and a choir without abside, finished with a gable wall pierced by a Romanesque opening. Its bell tower, supported by four pillars, dominates the third span of the nave. Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 13 July 1926, it now belongs to the commune of Aulon. Its architecture thus combines Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance influences, reflecting stylistic evolutions over nearly six centuries.

The location of Aulon in Occitanie places this building in a historical context marked by the influence of Benedictine abbeys and medieval pilgrimage routes. The Toulouse-style bell tower, typical of the region, highlights the cultural exchanges between Toulouse and the surrounding rural areas. The interior transformations of the 19th century illustrate the liturgical and aesthetic adaptations associated with the religious restoration movements of the time.

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