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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Pierre d'Autoire, located in the Lot in Occitanie, is a religious building whose origins date back to the late 11th century or early 12th century. It was given in 1090 by Raimond de Bauze, lord of Autoire, to the bishop of Cahors, on condition that his son became canon. The apse, the transept and the cross, characteristic of this period, are the oldest parts still visible today.

During the Hundred Years' War, the church was fortified: the Romanesque bell tower was raised and a small one was built above the choir, of which two walls still remain. The nave, probably destroyed during the Wars of Religion, was rebuilt between 1868 and 1880 in a Romano-Gothic style, with the addition of two collaterals and a vault of warheads. Reparations were also mentioned in 1783 by Abbé Clary.

The building features a mixed architecture, combining original novel elements and subsequent additions. The apse in hemicycle, preceded by a right span, and the capitals decorated with 11th century motifs bear witness to its medieval heritage. The carved models of the bedside, representing human figures, animals and geometric motifs, add to its artistic richness. The church has been listed as a historic monument since December 2, 1942.

The central nave, vaulted with warheads and flanked by collaterals, contrasts with the overflowing transept and the dome on pendants of the cross, surmounted by the bell tower. These transformations reflect the architectural changes and defensive needs of the time. Historical sources, such as the work of Abbé Cary and Louis d'Alauzier, underline its importance in Quercy's religious heritage.

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