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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jacques du Pouget, located in the village of the same name in Occitanie, was built in the 12th century, simultaneously with the local fortifications. His current term does not appear in any document before 1600, leaving a doubt about his original identity: was it the church of Saint-Alban (mentioned in 990) or Saint-Jean du Pouget (cited in 1230)? The building, with a single nave and without side chapels, is extended by a vaulted hemicycle sanctuary of a mixture of cradle and half-coupole. Its Romanesque portal, partially masked by a later turret, is decorated with palmettes and stylized foliage, sheltered under a triangular pediment.

In the 14th century, an imposing bell tower was added, whose vocation seems as military as well as religious, reinforcing the hypothesis of a defensive role for the village. Inside, only the capitals of the triumphal arch preserve Romanesque sculptures. The church was transformed into a chapel of the White Penitents in 1707, before being disused. Joined the Historical Monuments in 1954, it now belongs to the commune of Pouget.

The absence of sources prior to 1600 complicates the reconstruction of its early history. The portal, though partially hidden, remains a remarkable example of local Romanesque art, with archvolts adorned with geometric plant motifs. The vault of the sanctuary, combining cradle and half cupola, illustrates medieval architectural techniques. The bell tower, with its height and robustness, suggests an adaptation to the strategic needs of the fortified village.

The White Penitents, a secular religious brotherhood, marked the history of the building in the 18th century by converting it into a chapel. This subsequent decommissioning reflects the cultural and social upheavals of the following centuries. Today, the church, although closed to worship, retains a major heritage value, demonstrating the links between religious power, local defence and community life in Languedoc.

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