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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Philippe-et-Saint-Jacques de Montréal, located in Gers in Occitanie, has its origins in the early 14th century. Its northern pillar bears the date of 1300, attesting to its initial construction. The three-nave building was partially destroyed during the Wars of Religion (XVI century), requiring the reconstruction of the vaults of the first three spans and the structure. Its imposing aspect is explained by integrated defensive elements, reflecting the tensions of the time between Catholics and Protestants.

The collegiate church, registered with historical monuments in 1925, preserves traces of its medieval past despite subsequent transformations. The choir and the central apse, vaulted on cross of warheads, seem intact since their original construction. A Gothic portal, today devoid of its sculptures, and a Gallo-Roman mosaic testify to the artistic richness of the site. In the 17th century, major restorations were undertaken, while in the 19th century, the stained glass windows and the choir were renovated.

Montréal, a bastide founded in 1255 by Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of Saint-Louis, was a strategic issue during the Hundred Years War, passing alternately under French and English domination. The church, located on Via Podiensis towards Santiago de Compostela, played a central role in religious and community life. Its northern porch, adorned with sculpted capitals and caps, as well as interior arches, illustrates the regional artistic influence.

Religious conflicts marked the monument for a long time: in 1565 the Protestant troops of Montgomery, under the orders of Jeanne d'Albret, burned Montreal, probably damaging the church. The remains of medieval fortifications, destroyed during the Revolution, recall its defensive role. Today, the building also retains a tenuous fortified city gate, also classified.

The nearby archaeological site of Séviac, with its Gallo-Roman villa of the fourth century, and the paleontological deposit of Béon (17 million years) enrich the historical context of Montreal. These discoveries, like the Ampelomeryx ginsburgi (cerf-giraffe), highlight the ancient occupation of the territory, from prehistoric times to Roman times, through the Middle Ages.

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