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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Cyr de Fargues-sur-Ourbise, located in the department of Lot-et-Garonne in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, is a building whose origins date back to at least the thirteenth century for its fortified enclosure. This enclosure, originally designed as a cemetery wall, was enhanced and fortified in the 15th century, with murderers and an ogival door protected by a steeple. These defensive elements suggest a troubled period requiring the protection of sacred places and local populations.

The major reconstruction of the church took place in the first half of the sixteenth century, on the bases of an earlier building from which the north and south walls of the first span of the nave remain. The flamboyant Gothic choir, southern chapel and portal were erected between 1530 and 1540. The vaults, adorned with liernes and thirdons, as well as the foothills of the western facade, date from this work. The bell tower, on the other hand, has late Gothic features, with a bell chamber probably enhanced in the seventeenth century.

The cemetery attests to an ancient fortification, perhaps prior to the fourteenth century, with a crenelated wall and murderers. The building was partially modified in the 19th century, notably with the addition of an independent building in 1837, as well as an appentis protecting the gate and a sacristy. The church and its fortified enclosure were listed as historical monuments in 1929 and 1933 respectively, recognizing their heritage value.

Architecturally, the church adopts a Latin cross plan, with a unique nave of three spans extended by a five-sided choir. The lateral chapels, added on both sides of the third span, as well as the flamboyant reamped windows, illustrate the stylistic evolution between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Built of local black stones, it embodies the regional know-how and defensive adaptations of rural churches during periods of conflict.

Historical sources, such as the works of Jean Payen or the archives of the Merimée base, underline the importance of this monument as a witness to the architectural and social transformations of Guyenne. The St. Cyr church, through its mix of styles and defensive elements, reflects both local piety and the strategic needs of an era marked by insecurity.

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