Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Exupère de Saint-Exupéry, located in the Gironde department in New Aquitaine, is a Catholic religious building dedicated to Saint Exupère, bishop of Toulouse between the end of the third and beginning of the fourth century. Built on the edge of the 11th and 12th centuries, it underwent major changes, especially in the 16th century, with the reconstruction of its western facade, the addition of a staircase turret and the development of a porch whose only pillars remain today. An axial bay was also pierced in the bedside, adorned later with a stained glass window by painter-glass Raymond Mirande, representing the miracle of Saint Exupère.

Archaeological surveys revealed traces of medieval wall paintings with geometric decoration, reflecting the ancient ornamental richness of the building. The church, which has a single nave extended by a semicircular apse, was registered as historical monuments by order of 10 December 2007. This classification includes the entire building, as well as the remains of the entrance porch and access staircase.

Located about 400 metres south of the town hall and the departmental road D131, the church occupies a central square in the village of Saint-Exupéry. Its history reflects the architectural and artistic evolutions of the region, from its medieval foundation to the beautifications of the Renaissance. The presence of the 20th century Mirande stained glass window also illustrates the continuity of its cultural and spiritual role in the local community.

External links