Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de la Platé, mentioned from the 11th century, was originally located on a small plateau, hence its name. The medieval building was destroyed by Protestants during the wars of religion, leaving only the bell tower standing, transformed into a powderbox. The latter exploded because of a lightning impact during the Huguenot occupation, marking the end of the first church.

The reconstruction began in 1607, but it was in 1741 that the church was profoundly remodelled in a Jesuit and Baroque style, inspired by the Church of the Gesù of Rome. The presbytery was added in 1755, followed by the bell tower in 1771. Italian sculptors Isidore and Jean Baratta realized in 1756 major works of marble of Carrara, such as the Virgin of the Assumption and the Baptism of Christ. The organ, dated 1764, and the painted decorations of the nineteenth century complete this artistic ensemble.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Saint Émilie de Villeneuve made her vows there, an event commemorated by a altarpiece. Closed in 1997 due to degradation (infiltrations, deterioration of paintings), the church underwent major restorations, especially in 2017 for its interior decorations. Since 2015, it has reopened for concerts and ceremonies. His carillon, installed in 1847 and entirely manual, now has 34 bells, some melted by Paccard in 1976.

Ranked a historical monument in 1987, the church illustrates Castres' religious and artistic heritage, mixing Baroque, Jesuit and local influences. Its bell tower, accessible during cultural events, and its carillon, one of the few in the south of France still in activity, make it a remarkable heritage site. The works of the Baratta, the marble baldaquin, and the paintings of Jean-Baptiste Despax (1767) bear witness to its decorative richness.

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