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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Bouillac, originally built in the 14th century, was completely destroyed during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century. The conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, which ravaged much of southwestern France, reduced the building to ashes. The reconstruction began in 1632 under the impulse of Cardinal Villaret de Joyeuse, with a solemn blessing in 1647. The current brick building features a 17th-century bell tower-wall, supported by foothills and preceded by a symmetrical staircase porch. This bell tower, partly dated from the 14th century, was deeply restored in 1721.

The church has been home to an exceptional treasure since the 19th century: seven 13th century vermeil reliquaries from the Cistercian Abbey of Grandselve, destroyed during the Revolution. These liturgical objects, created between 1249 and 1253, were saved from looting thanks to inhabitants of Bouillac and exiled monks. Five reliquaries, including those of St. Liberate and Crucifixion, now belong to the commune. Two others, such as the True Cross, were returned in 1968 after a temporary deposit.

During the Wars of Religion, the treasure was sheltered at the Collège Saint-Bernard in Toulouse (1562–1662), then hidden during the French Revolution (1790–1802) to escape destruction. In 1865 Bishop Doney authenticated 193 relics, including those of Saint Thomas Becket and the apostles. The reliquaries, restored in 1956, illustrate the historical link between Bouillac and Grandselve's spiritual heritage.

The church, registered with the Historical Monuments since 1934, sees its bell tower-wall classified in 1951. This status protects an architectural (bricks, staircase porch) and artistic (vermeil, ivory), symbol of religious resilience in Occitanie. Sacred objects, referenced in the Palissy base, today attract researchers and pilgrims.

The location of Bouillac (Tarn-et-Garonne), near Montauban, and its code Insee 82020 anchor the monument in a territory marked by religious conflicts and Baroque reconstructions. The approximate address, 5 Rue de l'Eglise, facilitates its access, while its communal property guarantees its preservation.

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