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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Protestant temple of Meyrueis, located in the department of Lozère in Occitanie, is a religious building emblematic of 19th-century Protestant architecture. It is presented in the form of an octagonal rotunda, preceded by a porch and surmounted by an arcade bell tower, with a lauze cover. Its interior, dominated by wood, is organized around an octagonal central space covered with a dome in panelling, supported by pillars. The monumental walnut pulpit, a focal element of the building, symbolizes the importance of preaching in Protestant worship. The space, sober and functional, can accommodate up to 400 faithful.

The history of the temple dates back to before 1580, with a first rectangular building, replaced between 1797 and 1804 by an octagonal temple. The latter, a victim of bad manners, was destroyed in 1837. The present temple, built between 1837 and 1842 by architect Meynadier and entrepreneurs Martin and Pellet, takes over the octagonal plan and incorporates remaining walls of the old building. It was inaugurated on 5 December 1842 and adopted a neoclassical style, typical of the temples of the time. After the 1905 Law on the Separation of Churches and the State, it became the property of a religious association.

Ranked a historic monument since September 24, 2008, the temple illustrates the Protestant heritage in Occitanie. In 2016, a restoration program was launched to preserve its structure and cover. Open to the public from Easter to November, it also hosts cults, concerts and cultural activities, perpetuating its central role in local life. His octagonal plan, centered on the pulpit, reflects a liturgy centered on the divine word, characteristic of the Reformed temples.

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