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Saint Pierre de Montaut Church dans le Lot-et-Garonne

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Eglise gothique
Clocher-mur
Lot-et-Garonne

Saint Pierre de Montaut Church

    D257
    47210 Montaut
Église Saint-Pierre de Montaut
Église Saint-Pierre de Montaut
Crédit photo : Paternel 1 - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1400
1500
1600
1900
2000
fin XIIIe siècle
Construction of the gate and bell tower
1572
Fire during religious wars
fin XVe siècle
Reconstruction of the church
1597
Episcopal visit of Nicolas de Villars
1932
Historical monument classification
1956
Rediscovered murals
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Saint Peter's Church: by decree of 3 June 1932

Key figures

Moines de l'abbaye Saint-Géraud d'Aurillac - Founders of the Priory Monastic origin of the church.
Nicolas de Villars - Bishop of Agen Visit in 1597 after repairs.
M. Poutaraud - Chief Architect Architectural description in 1931.
Mireille Colas - History of Art Study of murals in 2010.

Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre de Montaut, located in the Lot-et-Garonne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, finds its origins in the Middle Ages. Founded as a priory by the monks of the abbey of Saint-Géraud d'Aurillac, it succeeds a Romanesque church whose remains remain. The portal and arch bell tower, framed by two square towers, date from the end of the 13th century, while the major reconstruction of the building took place at the end of the 15th century.

During the religious wars, the church suffered significant deterioration. In 1572, Protestants set fire to the building, which was quickly repaired, as evidenced by the episcopal visit of 1597. The murals, made between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, were rediscovered in 1956 and were restored in 1986 and 2001.

The architecture of the church, described in 1931 by architect Poutaraud, is characterized by a nave of three spans lined with a south collateral, extended by a square choir. The ensemble is vaulted on a cross of warheads, with carved keys at the junctions of the arches. The bell tower, covered with flat tiles, is accessible by a spiral staircase and surmounted by an arcade gallery.

Ranked a historic monument in 1932, Saint Peter's church also retains traces of its Roman past, on which it was partially built. The 14th century west gate features carved capitals and a facade surmounted by a porch housing the remains of an old fireplace.

The murals, studied by Mireille Colas in 2010, constitute a major artistic testimony of the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Their restoration revealed religious and decorative scenes, offering a glimpse of piety and art of the time.

The building, owned by the commune of Montaut, remains an active place of worship while attracting visitors for its architectural and pictorial heritage. Its ranking among historical monuments underlines its importance in the cultural heritage of New Aquitaine.

External links