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Reformed Temple à Nérac dans le Lot-et-Garonne

Lot-et-Garonne

Reformed Temple

    3 Rue de la Poste
    47600 Nérac
Temple réformé
Temple réformé
Temple réformé
Temple réformé
Temple réformé
Crédit photo : Père Igor - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
1579
Treaty of Nerac
1682
Destruction of the First Temple
1808-1845
Rental of the chapel of the Clarisses
1852-1858
Construction of the current temple
2013
Protestant Regional Synod
9 juillet 2021
Registration for historical monuments
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The Reformed temple, its presbytery and the connection between the two, with its parcel (with the exception of the shelter at the tip of the latter) and its fence, in accordance with the plan annexed to the decree, situated on Parcel No. 356 in the cadastre section AH: inscription by order of 9 July 2021

Key figures

Marguerite de Navarre - Queen of Navarre Protector of Humanists in Nerac
Jeanne d’Albret - Calvinist Queen Daughter of Margarita, promoter Reformation
Victor Baltard - Protestant architect Temple Designer (1852-1858)
Gustave Bourières - Local architect Supervisor of work in Nerac
Pasteur Cabos - Minister of Worship Positioned at the inauguration

Origin and history

The Protestant temple of Nérac, located 35 bis aisle of Albret, is an emblematic place of Protestantism in New Aquitaine. Its history is rooted in that of the Reformation: the city, a former fief of Marguerite de Navarre and then of her daughter Jeanne d'Albret (Calvinist), became a Protestant bastion in the 16th century. The first temple, destroyed in 1682 after the revocation of the edict of Nantes, bears witness to the persecutions suffered by the Reformed. After the Revolution, Protestants rented the chapel of the Clares (1808-1845) before losing this space.

The construction of the current building, between 1852 and 1858, was entrusted to the Parisian architect Victor Baltard (protestant), assisted locally by Gustave Bourières. Inspired by the temple of La Rochelle, its octagonal plan in cut stone promotes acoustics, essential for preaching. Pastor Cabos officiates at his inauguration. This temple prefigures that of the Holy Spirit in Paris (1865), taking over its campanile and structure.

The building, which was listed as a historical monument in 2021, remains a living symbol of Protestantism. In 2013, he hosted the first regional synod of the United Protestant Church of France, uniting Reformed and Lutheran. Its architecture, combining Renaissance heritage and functionality, reflects the religious and cultural identity of Nerac, marked by the Wars of Religion and the influence of Albret.

The site, owned by the commune, also includes a presbytery and a protected parcel. His recent inscription underscores his heritage value, linked to French Protestant history and figures such as Jeanne d-Albret or Baltard. The sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) confirm its continuing role in local and religious life.

External links