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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Juliette de Saint-Cirice, located in Tarn-et-Garonne in Occitanie, was initially linked to the Abbey of Marcillac as early as 1080, following a donation. This small country building, today difficult to discern because of the subsequent additions, preserves traces of its medieval origins. Its bell tower-wall, pierced by five bays in the middle of the wall and supported by massive foothills, as well as its 15th century Gothic portal decorated with masks, testify to its architectural evolution between the 11th and 16th centuries.

The nave and bell tower were rebuilt between the late 15th and 16th centuries, incorporating Gothic elements such as the broken arch of the southern gate. Inside, two side chapels flank the nave, while the choir, perhaps dating back to the 12th century, has an apse supported by flat foothills and a span rhythmic by doubles resting on rough capitals. These features reflect the successive adaptations of the building, between rural simplicity and regional stylistic influences.

A gallery sheltered under an awning, supported to the west by brick piles and to the south by wooden pillars, underscores the hybrid character of the church, between religious function and community use. Ranked a historic monument in 1984, it illustrates the modest but rich heritage of Occitan countryside, marked by centuries of local transformation and appropriation.

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