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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de La Caunette, first mentioned in 1254, was originally built in the 11th century. It belonged to the bishopric of Saint-Pons-de-Thomières, whose chapter had a fief in the parish. Its architecture combines a primitive Romanesque nave and a collateral added to the 16th century, reflecting successive adaptations related to the topography of the terrain.

The Romanesque nave, extended by a semicircular apse, was oriented southeast due to the transverse slope of the soil, thus avoiding costly foundations. The vaulting, divided into sections, passes from a sloping cradle (chorus) to a straight cradle (bottom). A massive square tower, probably prior to the 16th century changes, dominates the building. A lateral chapel, dated 1648 by its arch key, was added north of the collateral.

The church, registered with the Historical Monuments in 1972, illustrates medieval and modern architectural evolution in the Minervois. Its history is linked to the local seigneury, notably the family of Treil de Pardailhan, the last seigneurial family of La Caunette, who also owned the nearby castle. The village, rural and marked by a fluctuating demography (pic of 665 inhabitants in 1851), is part of a preserved territory, included in the regional natural park of Haut-Languedoc.

The surrounding natural heritage, with its Natura 2000 sites (Causses du Minervois) and its ZNIEFF, completes this historic setting. The church, a communal property, remains a witness to the religious and social dynamics of this Occitan region, between vineyards and garrigues.

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