Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint Andrew of Alet-les-Bains, located in the Aude in Occitanie, was built in the second quarter of the 14th century by the bishops of the new bishopric of Alet, founded in 1318 by Pope John XXII. The building, in Gothic style, consists of a unique nave with visible structure, a polygonal choir vaulted with warheads, and a fully painted chapel Saint-Benoît, serving as the base for the bell tower. The western portal, richly worked with a broken archvolt, and the rose of the facade reflect the architectural influence of the time. The 19th-century lancet stained glass windows and roses illuminate the interior, while the drip walls bear traces of later modifications.

The founding of the bishopric of Alet in 1318 marked a turning point: Abbé Barthélémy of Benedictine abbey Sainte-Marie became the first bishop, and the monks formed the chapter. The building of the parish church accompanied that of the cathedral, with chapels decorated with the arms of successive bishops, such as Guillaume d'Alzonne (1333–155), Guillaume de Florence (1355–160), and Guillaume de Rochefort (1489–1508). In the 17th century, a chapel was added under the episcopate of Nicolas de Pavillon, and another in the 19th century. In 1888 the bell tower was raised with an iron belfry, and four roses were pierced in the drip walls. The frescoes of the 15th and 16th centuries of the chapel Saint-Benoît, classified in 1910, testify to the artistic richness of the place.

The modifications continued at the beginning of the 20th century with the formwork of the nave. The church, owned by the municipality, preserves remarkable medieval elements, such as armorial vault keys and lancet windows, while integrating more recent additions. Its history reflects both local episcopal power and architectural developments over more than six centuries.

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