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Origin and history

The Saint-Laurent de Fleurance Church is a Catholic religious building located in the Gers department in the Occitan region. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries in three distinct phases, it illustrates the southern Gothic style by its imposing dimensions (70 m long for 35 m wide) and its mixture of materials: brick and stone. Its square bell tower, surmounted by an octagonal lantern of the 14th-15th century, as well as its west facade adorned with six fenders and a portail, reflect a strong Toulouse influence. Ranked a historical monument in 1907, it is distinguished by its three-nave plan without transept, typical of southern religious architecture.

Inside, the polygonal choir of the early 14th century is illuminated by three bays of late radiating style, while the following spans, vaulted in star, date from the late 14th and early 15th century. The central nave, 18 m high at the gate level, is supported by low-sides and discrete bows. The chapels, added in the 15th and 16th centuries, adopt a flamboyant Gothic style. The stained glass of the choir, attributed to Arnaud de Moles (author of those of the cathedral of Auch) and symbolically dated 1500, represents the Holy Trinity, the Virgin and the tree of Jesse. A statue of Virgin to Child in 15th century polychrome stone, known as miraculous during the Wars of Religion and Revolution, is also preserved.

The church organ, built in 1865 by Jules Magen (student of Cavaillé-Coll), has 34 games in a neo-Gothic buffet. Ranked as historical monuments in 1975 for its instrumental part, it bears witness to the musical importance of Gersoise parishes in the 19th century. The 16th century stained glass windows have been protected since 1862. The building, owned by the municipality, thus embodies an architectural, artistic and historical heritage, marked by successive restorations and additions.

The Toulouse influence also manifests itself in architectural details, such as the decorated fire of the facade or the foothills integrated into the attic. The difficulties of counter-buttoning limited the openings, but allowed to preserve a coherent structure, where defensive and aesthetic elements are mixed. The interior changes, such as the smoothing of the steps towards the choir in the eighteenth century, reveal a continuous adaptation of the liturgical space to the needs of the faithful.

Beyond its religious role, the St. Lawrence Church played a social and cultural role in the region. The stained glass windows of Arnaud de Moles, Magen's organs, and the miraculous statue make it a place of pilgrimage and living heritage. Its early ranking (1907) underscores its importance in the history of sacred art in Occitanie, while its location in Fleurance, near Auch, makes it a central point of the medieval and modern Gers.

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