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Origin and history

The Church of Our Lady of Gua is part of the industrial landscape of the Second Empire in Aubin, Aveyron. At that time, the Gua district became a major hub for coal extraction and steel production, driven by the Steel Company. This economic development is accompanied by an ambitious urban programme, including workers' housing and public buildings. Among these, the church of Notre-Dame du Gua is entrusted to the architect Louis-Auguste Boileau, a figure recognized for his architectural innovations. Its construction, between 1865 and 1867, reflected the research of the time, including the integration of metal structures into a neo-Gothic style.

The church is distinguished by its vast and unobstructed nave, rhythmic by columns of cast iron, then revolutionary material for a religious construction. This technical choice reflects Boileau's willingness to explore the potential of metal in architecture, a pioneering approach in the mid-19th century. The building, inaugurated in 1867, thus embodies the fusion between religious tradition, symbolized by the Gothic style, and industrial modernity, represented by the use of innovative materials. Its designation as historic monuments in 2003 underscores its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its link to the region's industrial history.

The entire protection of the church, formalized by an order of 13 June 2003, covers the entire building (cadastre BM 62). Owned by the municipality of Aubin, it remains a major architectural and historical testimony, illustrating the industrial development of the Rouergue and the urban changes that accompanied it. Its address, 36 Rue Martial Pleincassagne, places the church in the heart of the Gua district, a former epicenter of local mining and steel industry.

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