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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The parish church of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir, located in Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, is a religious building of Romanesque architecture dating back to the 13th century. It underwent major transformations in the 16th and 18th centuries, reflecting the architectural changes and the growing needs of the local community. Its history is closely linked to that of the neighbouring seigneurial castle, demonstrating its central role in the social and spiritual life of the city.

The first written reference to the current building dates from 1510, when an authorization for expansion is granted. The work, completed in 1566, included the addition of a bell tower at the cross of the transept. In the 18th century, partial collapses of the vaults (between 1718 and 1720) required reconstruction, followed by the development of a baptistery on the west façade and the construction of a sacristy on the south flank in 1771. A second enlargement, entrusted to the Avignon architect Esprit-Joseph Brun in 1777, extended the church northward. After the collapse of the bell tower in 1833, the eastern part was completely rebuilt, with the addition of a new bell tower in front of the bedside.

Classified as a historical monument by order of 14 October 1997, the church includes in its protection its southern annexes. Its location, place of the Church in Istres, makes it a major heritage landmark of the municipality. The sources available, including Wikipedia and the Mérimée base, underline its architectural and historical importance, notably as a representative example of Provencal Romanesque art adapted to liturgical and community needs throughout the centuries.

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