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Origin and history

The parish church of the Assumption of Sainte-Vierge, located in Molandier in the department of Aude, dates from the fourteenth century. It is distinguished by its brick architecture, especially at the level of the bell tower-wall and the gate, which were inscribed in historical monuments in 1948. These elements, typical of southern religious architecture, bear witness to a careful construction, with details such as the toruses and nets carved in brick, or the sandstone capitals.

The nave and sanctuary, also made of bricks, have undergone several changes over the centuries. The bell tower-wall, particularly remarkable, has six large campanary bays in full hanger, probably added in 1785, topped by three acute pinions. These eleven bays house a set of bells of various sizes. The church historically depended on the diocese of Toulouse for the temporal and that of Mirepoix for the spiritual, reflecting the ecclesiastical divisions of the time.

The gate, located in the axis of the building, is characterized by a wide brazing adorned with four toers and nets, typical of the southern Gothic style. Although some parts, such as the interior frame, have been reworked at a later date, the whole remains architecturally consistent. The location of the church, in the heart of the village of Molandier, makes it a central element of the local heritage, still today owned by the municipality.

Available sources, including the Merimée and Monumentum bases, confirm its status as a historical monument and its importance in the religious landscape of Occitanie. Its inscription in 1948 underlines the heritage value of its oldest elements, while at the same time attesting to the successive transformations that marked its history.

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