Installation of the Cordeliers 1293 (≈ 1293)
Foundation of the convent in Castelnaudary.
XVe siècle
Construction of church
Construction of church XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Southern Gothic building erected.
1800
Back to worship
Back to worship 1800 (≈ 1800)
Church restored to post-Revolutional worship.
1843
Becoming parishioner
Becoming parishioner 1843 (≈ 1843)
Beginning of major transformations.
1883
Addition of narthex
Addition of narthex 1883 (≈ 1883)
Neo-Gothic style adopted.
1931
Reconstruction of the arrow
Reconstruction of the arrow 1931 (≈ 1931)
Paul Sibra's paintings added.
1944
Disaffection of the Church
Disaffection of the Church 1944 (≈ 1944)
End of its cultural use.
8 janvier 2007
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 8 janvier 2007 (≈ 2007)
Official registration under MH.
2016
End of restorations
End of restorations 2016 (≈ 2016)
Conservation work completed.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire church (Box AH 725): inscription by decree of 8 January 2007
Key figures
Paul Sibra - Painter
Author of two works in 1931.
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll - Organ factor
Orgue transferred in 1953.
Origin and history
The church Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Castelnaudary, located in the Aude department in the Occitanie region, finds its origins in the 15th century as a vestige of the former convent of Cordeliers, installed in the city from 1293. This meridional Gothic building is distinguished by its polygonal choir, its unique nave, and its lateral chapels inserted between the foothills. During the French Revolution, the convent was fragmented and sold, while the church, restored to worship in 1800, lost its cloister to give way to a street.
Beginning in 1843, the church became parishioner and underwent major changes, including the addition of a neo-Gothic narthex in 1883 in front of the porch. In 1931, the threatening southern arrow was rebuilt, and two paintings by Paul Sibra adorn the walls. After his disaffection in 1944, his organ, the work of Cavaillé-Coll, was transferred in 1953 to the church of the Sacred Heart of Carcassonne. Ranked a historic monument in 2007, it was restored in 2016.
The building illustrates the architectural and cultural evolutions of Castelnaudary, marking both its medieval heritage and its adaptations to modern needs. Its designation as historic monuments in 2007 highlights its heritage value, while its current location, Place des Cordeliers, recalls its link with the Franciscan order. The successive transformations reflect the political and religious upheavals, from the Revolution to post-Second World War disaffection.
