Transfer to the command office of Espedaillac entre 1250 et 1280 (≈ 1280)
The church passes to the Hospitallers.
1315
Residence of the Commander
Residence of the Commander 1315 (≈ 1315)
Soulomes becomes the headquarters of the command office.
première moitié du XVIe siècle
Wall paintings
Wall paintings première moitié du XVIe siècle (≈ 1625)
Two painting campaigns.
XVe–XVIe siècles
Major reconstructions
Major reconstructions XVe–XVIe siècles (≈ 1650)
Transformation after the Hundred Years War.
1802
Reconstruction of the west façade
Reconstruction of the west façade 1802 (≈ 1802)
Dated gate and revamped tower.
1925
Registration of the Presbytery
Registration of the Presbytery 1925 (≈ 1925)
First partial protection.
1944
Church ranking
Church ranking 1944 (≈ 1944)
Full protection of the monument.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Commandeur d'Espédaillac - Hospital manager
Resides in Soulomès from 1315.
J. Lartigaut - Historical (1992)
Corrects the wrong attribution to the Templars.
V. Czerniak - Historical (2004)
Specify the hospital chronology.
Origin and history
The church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Soulomès is a historical monument built from the twelfth to the sixteenth century. It is characterized by a composite architecture, marked by successive reconstructions. The Romanesque nave, the oldest part, is disoriented from the west porch, rebuilt in 1802. A tower overlooks the building, the ground floor of which serves as a porch. The lateral elevations reveal three distinct construction phases, with traces of crows and consoles kept at mid-height.
In the 14th century, a nave and choir finished with a right wall were added, expanding the building. Lateral chapels, some dating from the 15th century, complete the structure. The bedside, of square plan, is vaulted with warheads of various profiles (tore with listel or double gorge), revealing two major work campaigns. The northeast chapel, added at the end of the 15th or early 16th century, condemned a window of the northwest chapel, while the murals, made in two campaigns in the 16th century, adorn the choir and nave.
The church, initially dependent on the Abbey of Marcilhac, was ceded between 1250 and 1280 to the hospital commissionory of Espedalillac, becoming the residence of the commander from 1315. The Hospitallers probably changed the building, but the post-war reconstructions of the Hundred Years (XV–XVI centuries) profoundly transformed its appearance. The partially Romanesque tower was entirely rebuilt in the early 19th century, as indicated by the gate dated 1802. The murals, representing religious scenes and a tribute from a knight from Malta, bear witness to his rich past.
The 15th century presbytery retains a wooden attic and a lauze blanket. The coat of arms carved on the vault keys and the decoration of the choir could, once identified, specify the sponsors and the dates. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1944 (after a first partial inscription in 1925), the church illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of the region, mixing Romanesque, Gothic and modern modifications.
