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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saints-Julien-et-Basilisse de Bram, located in the Aude in Occitanie, is a Gothic building built mainly in the 13th century, with elements added in the 14th century. It occupies the location of the old castle in the centre of the medieval circular village. His existence was attested as early as 1211, when the bishop of Toulouse, Folquet de Marseille (or Foulques), made a donation to the monastery of Prouilhe. The dedication to Saint Basilisse and Saint Julien, saints of the High Middle Ages, suggests the presence of an earlier building on this site.

The interior consists of a vaulted nave on cross of warheads, with Gothic spans and 19th century additions such as the metal stand. The choir, flanked by two Gothic chapels forming a false transept, houses a 17th-century baroque altarpiece decorated with a painting of the Assumption. The pentagonal apse and square bell tower, dated from the late 13th century, were restored between 2002 and 2010. An 18th century marble marquetry funeral slab, classified in 1911, commemorates the lords of Lordat, governors of Carcassonne.

Partially classified as historical monuments since 1932 (abside and bell tower), the church has undergone several restoration campaigns, including in 2016-17 (lighting), 2020 (façades), and 2025 (roof). It preserves architectural elements typical of 14th century Languedoc churches, like a massive square bell tower, atypically located to the north. The wall decoration, made in 1878 by François Ourtal, and a commemorative plaque of 1914-1918 recall its central role in local memory.

The church is linked to personalities such as Albert Sarraut, whose funeral was celebrated there in 1962, or Bishop Bruno Valentin, who served there in 2022. Canon Bruno Garrouste (1944-2023), priest of Bram twice, marked the community with his commitment. The association Les Amis de l'Église de Bram, founded in 2015, works to preserve this heritage, organizing events to enhance it.

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