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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of St Peter of Riscle, mentioned in the 11th century in the registers of the chapter of Auch, is an emblematic building of Gersois heritage. Its current construction, mainly dating from the fourteenth century, replaces a first, more modest medieval church. Located on a plateau overlooking the city, it was designed to protect the inhabitants from the floods of Adour and invasions, playing a double role as a fortress and place of worship. Its architecture marks the transition between the Romanesque (conical) and Gothic styles (west facade, warheads), reflecting the artistic evolutions of the period.

Between 1478 and 1490, the church underwent extensive restoration work, notably on the bell tower (the "torus"), whose openings were partially blocked in 1485 for security reasons. The wars of Religion in the 16th century severely damaged the building: the Protestant knight Montgomery burned the roof in 1572, causing the vaults to collapse. The repairs, carried out in the nineteenth century, respected the style of the vaults that survived, while the tympanum of the gate, redone in terracotta, represents Saint Dominique receiving the rosary. The polygonal choir and the current stained glass windows date back to the 1850 restoration, when the church regained its central function in local life.

Ranked a historic monument on February 25, 1974, the church bears the stigmas of its tormented history: traces of repairs under the bell tower (after the destruction of 1793 during the Revolution), thick walls pierced with murderers, and white glass windows added in the sixteenth century. A symbol of resilience, she now peacefully dominates Riscle, recalling her past role as a sanctuary, refuge and community gathering place. Its furniture, partially referenced in the Palissy base, and its hybrid architecture make it a rare testimony to artistic transitions and religious conflicts in Occitanie.

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