Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir church in Istres, located in the Bouches-du-Rhône, is a religious building marked by a history linked to the local seigneurial castle. Its construction runs from the 13th to the 18th century, with major expansions and partial reconstructions. The first document attesting to its existence dates from 1510, authorizing its extension, completed in 1566 by the addition of a bell tower at the cross of the transept. This work reflects the growing importance of the building in the community and seigneurial life of the region.

In the 18th century, the church suffered structural damage, including the partial collapse of its vaults between 1718 and 1720, requiring reconstruction. This period also saw the development of a Baptistery in the west façade (1771) and the construction of a sacristy on the south flank. In 1777, the Avignon architect Esprit-Joseph Brun was charged with a new enlargement on the north side, illustrating the liturgical and demographic needs of the period. The bell tower collapsed in 1833, causing the reconstruction of the eastern part and the erection of a new bell tower ahead of the bedside.

Inscribed to historical monuments on October 14, 1997, the church today embodies an architectural heritage combining Romanesque and classical styles. Its successive transformations, documented by the archives, reveal its adaptation to the religious, social and technical evolutions of Provence. The 1997 protection covers the building and its southern annexes, highlighting its historical and cultural value for the municipality of Istres and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

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