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Origin and history

The church Saint-Georges de Lafrançaise finds its origins in a turbulent history. In medieval times, no church is mentioned in the bastide of "La Francèze", but the parish of Saint-Pierre-de-Benas, destroyed in the 16th century by Calvinists, is attested until 1474. The first church of Saint George, built in the bastide, suffered the same fate in 1567, razed by the Protestants. These religious conflicts lastingly mark the local heritage, erasing the traces of earlier buildings.

The reconstruction of the church took place in the 17th century, followed by an expansion in the early 19th century. However, in 1844, Mayor Laval warned about his state of disrepair, the building – composite and weakened by successive reconstructions – threatening to ruin. Despite several aborted projects, it was only in 1894 that the municipal council validated the construction of the present church, entrusting the plans to the Toulouse architect, Intreeil. This project, marked by delays and financial disputes, was completed in 1909.

The neo-Gothic building, made of brick, breaks with the traditional orientation: its entrance now opens on the village square, renovated for the occasion. Measuring 50 metres long, it includes a five-sided choir and a vaulted nave 18 metres high. The bell tower, originally planned above, remains unfinished due to lack of funds. Consecrated in 1909 by Bishop Marty, bishop of Montauban, the church still houses some remains of the old furniture and decoration, such as a statue of St.Georges (17th century) or a quest plateau of the 16th century.

Classified at the General Inventory of Occitanie and referenced in the Mérimée base, the church has been denied access since 2011 for security reasons. Its history reflects the religious upheavals, urban challenges and technical challenges that shaped Lafrançaise, from the Renaissance to the Third Republic.

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