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Origin and history

The church Saint-Michel de Caderousse, located in the Vaucluse, is a religious building marked by hybrid architecture, blending Romanesque and flamboyant Gothic styles. Built in the 15th century on the remains of a 12th century early church, it was initially a private chapel of the lords of Caderousse, like Robert de Caderousse (mentioned in 1060), before being transferred to the clergy in 1464. Its semi-circular Romanesque apse and its arches in the middle of the hangar contrast with the Gothic additions, including the arcade bell tower rebuilt between 1509 and 1511.

The chapel Saint-Claude, formerly the seigneurial chapel of the d'Ancezune, is a jewel of the flamboyant Gothic Provençal. Built between 1448 and 1458 by Anthoine d'Ancezune to house the family burials, it was enlarged in 1517 by her son William IV, adviser to King Francis I. Its multi-ribed vaults, inspired by English models, and carved gargoyles make it an architectural rarity. The chapel was restored to the community in 1802 after the Revolution, while the church, classified as a historical monument in 1946, was renovated in 1985 under the direction of the Monuments de France.

The bell tower, symbol of local virtue, was the subject of numerous interventions: pious bequests in 1403, reconstruction in 1509, and installation of six bells in 1563, replaced in the 20th century. Side chapels, such as André Fayssat (1489) or trustees (1493), reflect the influence of noble families and local brotherhoods. Historical floods, marked on the pillars (e.g. aqua 1530), recall the environmental challenges of the region.

The interior of the church preserves traces of its pagan past, with ruins of the temple of Apollo (Vth century) integrated into the structure. The missing retables, like that of 1452 representing Notre-Dame de Pitié, bear witness to his past artistic richness. The sacristy, added in 1826, and the chapel of the Virgin (1870) illustrate the subsequent adaptations, while the intramural cemeteries, transferred in 1862, evoke medieval funeral practices.

Classified as a historical monument for its chapel of Anceszune (1905) and its bell tower (1946), the church of Saint-Michel embodies almost a thousand years of religious and seigneurial history in Provence. Its bow-buttons over the Rue des Courtines, its armored stained glass windows, and its star vaults make it a unique heritage, linked to the families of Anceszune and Gramont, whose graves still rest there.

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