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Origin and history

The tower of Cardinal d'Aux, located in La Romieu in the Gers, is a fourth quarter building of the 13th century, built between 1313 and 1318. It was one of the elements of the mansion of Cardinal Arnaud d'Aux, cousin of Pope Clement V and founder of the collegiate Saint Peter. Of square plan and entirely built of cut stone, it had two floors, with access to the first floor by a staircase today disappeared. Its ground floor, raised and vaulted, preserves traces of medieval paintings.

The tower is the only remaining vestige of this manor house, which was originally to connect to the enclosure of the nearby abbey. It is located south-west of the Collège Saint-Pierre, whose architectural ensemble it completed. The college itself has two distinct towers: an octagonal sacristy tower and a 33-metre bell tower with a double propeller staircase. These buildings, like the Cardinal's tower, are made of stone.

Ranked a historical monument since October 10, 1928, the Cardinal of Aux tower illustrates the influence of church dignitaries in the region in the Middle Ages. Its sober architecture and its location close to the college underline its role in the spatial and religious organization of La Romieu. Today it is owned by the municipality and bears witness to the medieval heritage of Gers and its connection to the papal history of Avignon.

The painted decoration on the ground floor, although partially erased, represents angels musicians and singers accompanied by members of the family of Aux. These frescoes, dated from the 14th century, reinforce the sacred and memorial character of the site. The tower, although without its original staircase, retains a robust structure, typical of the defensive and residential buildings of the time.

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