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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Loubressac is a Catholic building located in the village of the same name, in the department of Lot (Occitanie). Originally built in the 14th century, it was profoundly redesigned in the early 16th century, as evidenced by the 1520 portal, although its style suggests a later realization (second quarter of the 16th). The building replaces a 14th century primitive church, from which two lions in use near the gate could come. Its architecture is characterized by a unique nave vaulted with warheads, flanked by four side chapels, and a portal decorated with statues hammered during the Wars of Religion (late 16th century).

The portal, now damaged, once presented symbolic sculptures: Adam on the right, his hand on a fig leaf, and Eve on the left, accompanied by the tree and the snake. In the centre, a figure interpreted as Christ in majesty dominates the whole. The coat of arms of the D ́Auriolle, Barons of Gramat and Loubressac in 1507, are attached to it, confirming the link between the local seigneury and the building. Inside, the painted decorations of the choir, made in the 19th century by an artist named Pélissier, contrast with the medieval structure. The church, originally dedicated to Saint Peter, later adopted the term Saint John the Baptist, inherited from the former early parish church.

Classified as a Historic Monument since 21 June 1971, the church benefited from repairs in 1874 and 1894, as reported in the archives of Father Cary. Several movable objects are listed in the Palissy base, highlighting the richness of its heritage. Today owned by the municipality, it embodies both the medieval heritage of Quercy and the architectural transformations of the Renaissance, marked by religious conflicts and local developments.

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