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Origin and history

The Church of St. Teresa of Tarbes, originally named the Church of Carmelites, finds its origins in the convent of Carmelites founded in 1280. The present building preserves medieval elements, including the polygonal bedside and a geminied window on the west façade, witness to fires and successive reconstructions. After the Revolution, the church was transformed into a forage store and rebuilt in 1845 after the collapse of its northern facade, becoming the parish church of St. Theresa of Avila.

The architecture of the church combines 15th century vestiges, such as the octagonal bell tower adorned with pinnacles and the cross vault of the choir, with additions of the 19th century. The sacristy, rebuilt in 1941 in an Art Deco style, and the frescoes of the choir, painted by Dominique Larré in 1863 and restored in 2012, illustrate this duality. The building, which was listed as a historical monument in 1946, thus embodies a synthesis between medieval heritage and modernity.

The Carmes monastery, founded in 1282, gave birth to a first church whose preserved parts (beds of the bedside, initial rose) may date back to 1482. The bell tower, typical of the 15th century, passes from a square plane to an octagon, surmounted by a brick arrow. The nave, vaulted in a broken cradle, was divided into five spans, while the high south bays, initially walled, were replaced by smaller windows. These transformations reflect the successive adaptations of the building to liturgical and urban needs.

In the 19th century, the church was embellished by works of art, including paintings by Raymond Lagarrigue (1847-1869) and Gothic woodwork surrounding the choir. Dominique Larré's frescoes, covered in 1969, were restored in 2012, revealing their original brilliance. These artistic elements, combined with hybrid architecture, make Sainte-Thérèse a remarkable witness to the evolution of the Tarbese religious heritage.

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