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Origin and history

Soulomès Presbytery, dated the 15th century, is a wooden building covered with lauze, typical of medieval rural architecture. It is directly linked to the neighbouring church, itself the fruit of several construction campaigns between the 12th and 16th centuries. This presbytery, with its characteristic attic, reflects the local ecclesiastical organization and construction techniques of the period.

The adjacent church, classified as a Historical Monument, has a complex structure marked by successive phases: a Romanesque nave (XII century), Gothic enlargements (XIVth-15th centuries), and a western facade rebuilt in 1802. The lateral chapels, added in the 15th and 16th centuries, house vaults with various ribs (tore with listel or double gorge) and murals of the first half of the 16th century, illustrating religious scenes such as Thomas' unbelief or the Tombing. These frescoes, made in the wet, testify to the artistic and spiritual importance of the place.

The history of the site is closely linked to the order of the Hospitallers. The church, initially dependent on the Abbey of Marcilhac, was transferred between 1250 and 1280 to the commandory of Espedallac, then to Salles-Durbans. From 1315, Soulomès became the residence of the commander, which explains the addition of a house and a gallery linking the church to the hospital building. The partially Romanesque tower-clocher and the post-war modifications of Cent Ans (15th century) illustrate this transition between parish and command function.

The coat of arms carved on the arch keys and the 1802 portal raise questions about their origin: some could be medieval jobs, others of 19th century creations. The reconstruction of the west façade in 1802, with its date inscription, marks the last major transformation of the monument. Despite these late additions, the building preserves medieval architectural traces, such as loose chapels or condemned windows, revealing its evolution.

The presbytery and church, protected respectively in 1925 and 1944, form a coherent whole despite their heteroclite styles. Their present state is the result of continuous restorations and adaptations, from Gothic vaults to Renaissance paintings. These elements make it a rare testimony to the religious and seigneurial history of Quercy, between monastic influence, hospital power and village heritage.

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