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Origin and history

The Church of Saint John of Vidailhac, also known as the Vieille Church, is a Catholic building located in Cocomont, Lot-et-Garonne department. Its origins date back to the late 11th or early 12th century, with carolingian remains visible in its opus spicatum walls (fish ridge galets). The original building, built with the use of ancient aircraft, had three naves, of which today only one ship remains. The transept and bedside, built in the second half of the 11th century, were redesigned in the 12th century, when the Romanesque portal adorned with carved capitals was also erected.

In the 15th century, a chapel dedicated to Saint Anne was added on the southern facade, probably commissioned by André de Ferrand, Lord of Cocomont, in 1576. This chapel is distinguished by its dogive vault with liernes and thirdons, characteristic of the flamboyant Gothic. The bell tower, originally built in stone at the end of the sixteenth century, was rebuilt in 1791 after serving as Temple of Reason during the Revolution (1793). The church, registered as a historical monument in 1927, underwent several restoration campaigns, notably in 1823, 1845 and partly in 1988.

The building retains remarkable elements such as the three arched apses in cul-de-four, a columned arching in the sanctuary, and Carolingian tombs in the old cemetery. Originally linked to the Abbey of Conques, the church was mentioned as a school in 1177, reflecting its central role in medieval religious and community life. Its Romanesque portal, composed of three arches in the middle of a moulded hanger, remains one of the most successful testimonies of Romanesque art in Agenais.

Architecturally, the church illustrates the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic periods, with Romanesque walls in large apparatus contrasting with late additions in bellows. The nave, once vaulted, is now lambrished, while the apsidioles and the 15th century chapel have retained their original vaults. The current bell tower, with a roof in the pavilion, dominates the building and marks the evolution of local constructive techniques.

The site, owned by the municipality of Cocomont, bears witness to nearly a millennium of religious and architectural history. Its designation as historic monuments in 1927 underscores its heritage value, while successive restorations have preserved its medieval and modern characteristics. The church remains a significant example of the Romanesque and Gothic heritage of New Aquitaine, anchored in the historical landscape of the Agenas.

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