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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Bournel, located in Lot-et-Garonne, rises on the ancient Roman way from Périgueux to Agen, taken by the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela. Founded in the late 11th or early 12th century, it was dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, patron saint of penitents. From this time the span of the bell tower (the vault of a dome on pendants) and the south wall of the nave remain, while the original abside was replaced by a flat bedside. The bell tower, reinforced during the Hundred Years' War, illustrates its defensive role.

In the 15th century, the church was enriched with a lower north side, a star vault with liernes and thirdons (last span), and a wooden frame. The west facade, adorned with sculptures (a shelled pilgrim and Saint Marie-Madeleine), as well as the chorus bays, date from this period. The upper part of the bell tower, crowned with a wooden gallery with a skeleton evoking the heavy military, was also added. These adjustments reflect both liturgical needs and an adaptation to the conflicts of the time.

Between 1892 and 1893, the bays of the nave and the lower side were modified to accommodate stained glass windows (realized by Henri Feur around 1896), while light vaults replaced a wooden ceiling. In 1912, a foothill was erected to stabilize the northeast corner of the lower side, threatened by detachment. The facade, restored in 1959 without major alteration, retains its historical aspect. Ranked a historic monument in 1948, the church also houses medieval burials (until 1778) and two bells: a fondue in the eighteenth century (sponsored by Louis and Marie du Rieu), the other in 1855 under the ministry of Abbé Boyer.

The furniture includes stained glass windows signed by Henri Feur, while the sculpted portal recalls Bournel's bond with the compostellan pilgrimages. The large bell, dated 18th century, bears the names of its godfathers (family of the Rieu), and the small bell of 1855 those of the Larmandie family. These elements bear witness to local community and religious life between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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