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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Sulpice in Daubèze, located in the Gironde department in New Aquitaine, is a Catholic building originally dedicated to Saint Sulpice, now known as Notre-Dame. Built in the 12th century, it is distinguished by its unique nave, its arched transept of warheads and a cul-de-four apse. The bell tower with curved sides, added in the 18th century, completes a structure that has been profoundly redesigned over the centuries, especially after a fire during the French Revolution. These transformations almost erased the traces of the original Romanesque church, whose decorative richness was revealed by archaeological excavations revealing fragments of sculptures and figurative patterns.

The northern gate, pierced in an undetermined period, is a major architectural feature. Composed of Romanesque capitals and Gothic columns of re-use, it presents a heteroclite aspect, with sculptures depicting biblical scenes such as the call of the first disciples, the temptation of Adam and Eve, the worship of the Magi and Daniel in the lions' den. These capitals, dating from the late 11th and early 12th centuries, illustrate a moralistic Romanesque iconography, opposing original disobedience to redemption by faith. Inside, a single figurative capital remains, representing two birds beaking a fruit.

The building, inscribed entirely in historical monuments by decree of 21 November 1925, also preserves a lintel adorned with a chrism today almost disappeared. The ancient drawings, such as that of Léo Drouyn (1878), bear witness to successive changes, including the replacement of the columns of the portal in the 20th century by simple drums. Owned by the commune, the church thus embodies a synthesis of the epochs, where the initial novel dialogues with Gothic and modern additions, reflecting a turbulent history and a desire for heritage preservation.

The excavations confirmed the importance of the original Romanesque decoration, today largely disappeared, while the portal remains an exceptional testimony of medieval narrative sculpture. The scenes represented, like Daniel between lions or worship of the Magi, highlight the didactic and symbolic dimension of Romanesque art, designed to educate the faithful through visual biblical accounts. The church, though transformed, thus retains a major historical and artistic value, illustrating the evolution of religious and architectural practices in Aquitaine.

The location of the church, in the heart of the village of Daubèze along the departmental road D123, makes it a local landmark. Its history also reflects political and religious upheavals, from its medieval construction to its post-revolutionary restoration. The portal's capitals, although partially degraded, offer a rare glimpse of girondine Romanesque iconography, often centered on themes such as redemption and divine protection, as evidenced by Daniel's representation, a symbol of triumphant faith.

Finally, the Saint Sulpice church is part of a wider network of Gironde's Romanesque buildings, sharing common iconographic themes such as the adoration of the Magi or Daniel in the lions' den. These motifs, recurring in the region (Bouliac, La Sauve, Saint-Quentin-de-Baron), reveal a coherent artistic and religious tradition, where art served both as educational support and as a manifestation of divine power. By registering for historical monuments in 1925, this heritage was preserved, while highlighting its role in local and regional history.

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