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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Saint-Étienne de Baziège, located in the Haute-Garonne department in the Occitanie region, was built for the first time in the 14th century. It was destroyed in 1540, then rebuilt in the flourishing pastel era, a major economic period for the region. The building suffered several fires, notably by the Routiers and the Black Prince, before being rebuilt in its present form. Its architecture reflects these historical tumults, with a "fortified wall" style bell tower typical of the defensive churches of the time.

The bell tower, inscribed as historical monuments in 1950, has a massive silhouette evoking fortified churches. Its lower part has been redesigned, while the upper part, flanked by two turrets, houses five bells of various sizes. At the end of the 19th century, two entrances were made during the development of Place Jeanne d'Arc, replacing an old unhealthy neighbourhood called the Cantousès. This bell tower, symbol of resistance, still dominates the landscape of Baziège.

Inside, the church houses a remarkable artistic heritage: three classified statues (one Christ on the cross, the Virgin Mary and Saint John) forming a calvary, as well as two paintings by Jean-Baptiste Despax representing the worship of shepherds. The stained glass windows, two of which were dated from 1851, and a Gothic portal renovated in 1895, testify to the architectural and liturgical developments of the place. A Roman Milemark, known as "Saint Stone", from the former Saint Martin-des-Champs Church, is also preserved there, linked to a local tradition of martyrdom.

The church has an organ of 1840, modified several times, notably by Frédéric Jungk (1850), Theodore Puget (1898), and rebuilt in 1994 by the House Pesce. Composed of 17 games, it is still played by the owner organist Emanuel Zozor. The carillon, one of the most important in Occitanie after Pamiers, has 26 bells covering two and a half octaves. Restored in 2000, it combines automation and piano keyboard for varied melodies, marking the highlights of local life.

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