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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Quitterie de Frégimont, located in the Lot-et-Garonne, is a Gothic building whose works began in 1506 under the impulse of the parish priest Guillaume Péchimbert, parishioners and the lord Pierre de Montpezat. In 1551, Vicar Vallier noted that the building was unfinished, requiring the finalisation of the bell tower and vaults. This delay is due to the financial and technical difficulties of the time, typical of the ecclesiastical projects of this period.

During the Wars of Religion, the church suffered significant damage, attested by a 1572 report. The repairs took place in 1639, but the vaults were never completed. The building then comprises two chapels: one dedicated to Notre-Dame (ownership of the Lord), the other to Saint Blaise. These side chapels reflect the local social and religious organization, where lords often finance dedicated spaces in parish churches.

In the 19th century, restorations were undertaken, notably on the bays (windows) and the vault in 1877 by architect Léopold Payen. These interventions are designed to preserve the late Gothic style of the building, characterized by a de-axed bell tower, a Gothic porch and a five-sided choir. Other works followed, such as the restoration of the roof in 1932 and repairs after a fire caused by lightning in 2009.

Ranked a historical monument in 1952, the church illustrates the architectural evolution and historical hazards of rural religious buildings in Aquitaine. Its plan, with a vaulted nave of warheads and chapels forming a forgery, is representative of 16th century constructions in the region, mixing Gothic influences and local adaptations.

Historical sources, such as pastoral visits or notarial transactions, reveal the importance of the church in community life. It serves as a place of worship, but also as a symbol of seigneurial and parish power, as evidenced by the private chapels and the conflicts surrounding its construction. Today, it remains an active heritage, maintained by the municipality.

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