Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir, Romanesque style, is mentioned for the first time in 1119 in a papal bubble of Gélase II. At that time, it depended on the abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. This document attests to its seniority and religious importance in the Middle Ages. His original term, although not specified in this text, will later be associated with Saint Blaise, a protector traditionally invoked against sore throats and animal diseases.

During the wars of Religion, which shaken Provence in the 16th century, the church suffered major damage: its nave collapsed in 1585. The reconstruction was immediate, as early as 1587, using Mane Stone, a renowned local material. The chosen model is inspired by the Carmelite Church of Manosque, reflecting regional architectural influences. This period of reconstruction marks a transition between the original Romanesque style and Renaissance additions, visible in the current structure.

The nave, divided into four arched spans, ends with a semicircular apse surmounted by an ogival arch, characteristic of late Gothic changes. Among the notable elements, a reliquary bust of Saint Tulle (18th century), vestiges of armored funeral liter of the Valbelle (local seigneurial family), and two paintings by Maria Fidèle Patritti (1811–67) testify to the heritage richness of the building. The arch bell tower, bearing three bells, one of which has been listed as a historical monument since 1990 (dated from 1603), dominates the entrance and symbolizes the persistence of the cult despite historical hazards.

The church, still under the name of Saint Blaise, illustrates liturgical and community continuity since the Middle Ages. The movable objects, like the nine paintings and four statues, as well as the heraldic traces of the Valbelle, recall its central role in the religious and social life of Sainte-Tulle. The restoration campaigns, especially after 1585, show the inhabitants' attachment to this place, despite the conflicts and political changes.

Architecturally, the building combines Romanesque parts (abside, wall) and 16th and 18th century additions (voûts, interior decor). This superimposition of styles reflects artistic developments and liturgical needs over the centuries. Today, the church of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir remains a major testimony of Provençal religious heritage, classified and protected for its historical and aesthetic values.

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