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Origin and history

The church of Saint-André de Labastide-Esparbairenque, although parish of this commune, is physically located in the territory of Roquefère, in the department of Aude. Dating from the 1st quarter of the 16th century, it was mentioned in 1269 as an annex to the church of Roquefère, before becoming an autonomous parish in the middle of the 14th century. An inscription on the triumphal arch indicates the date of 1522, probably marking the construction of the current building.

The church, of sober style, presents a unique nave divided into four unequal spans, with a five-sided sanctuary. Its original vault consists of a short span between the triumphal arch and a parallel vein, followed by a warhead arch on the polygonal part. The carved blazes, some of which represent Death and Life, bear witness to remarkable artistic know-how. Three southern chapels, later added, complete the whole.

In 1699, a service chapel was built in the village of Labastide-Esparbairenque, resulting in a partial abandonment of the building. In spite of this, the apse, the chapel of the Virgin and the bell tower are inscribed in the historical monuments by decree of 27 April 1948. The bell tower, of square shape, rises near the chapel, highlighting the architecture characteristic of this rural church.

The location of the church, away from the village, reflects a complex medieval parish organization, where communal and religious boundaries do not always coincide. Today, the monument remains an architectural and historical testimony of the region, managed by the municipality of Roquefère.

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