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Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame-de-l'Assumption de Denat, built in the 12th century, was originally the private chapel of the lords of the village. It was redesigned and fortified in the 13th century to integrate into the local defensive system, with adjacent courtesies and a watchtower now gone. His Romanesque apse, raised to form a dungeon with the central tower, illustrates this dual religious and military vocation.

In the 14th century, the bishops of Albi, using Denat as a secondary residence, enriched the church with liturgical furniture, works of art and objects of worship. The nave, more recent than the rest of the building, contrasts with the Romanesque apse. Inside, arches in warheads, pilasters and Romanesque capitals testify to successive architectural developments.

The building was listed as historic monuments on 18 June 1927. Its bell tower preserves a decoration of arches that are now clogged, while its interior combines Romanesque elements (chapitals, committed columns) and Gothic (voûts). Several objects of its furniture are referenced in the Palissy base, highlighting its heritage importance.

Owned by the commune of Denat (code INSEE 81079) in the Tarn, the church is located in the church square, in the heart of the village. Its state of conservation and its location (precision: 5/10) make it a characteristic example of fortified churches in southwestern France, marked by medieval conflicts.

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