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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The former church of Saint-Jean-du-Bleymard is a Catholic religious building located in the municipality of Bleymard, in the department of Lozère (Occitanie). Originally built in the 12th century in a Romanesque style, it is characterized by a unique nave, a cul-de-four apse and side chapels. Its architecture bears the traces of subsequent changes, especially in the 14th and 15th century for the west facade and chapels, as well as in the 18th century for enlargements.

The entrance door, in a broken arch with two ground archvolts, rests on columns with late capitals (XV-XVIth century), reflecting a transition between Gothic and Renaissance. Inside, a 19th-century polychrome wooden altar and altarpiece occupy the abside, while fragments of murals (vegetal leaves) remain. The bell tower, added later, still houses a bell. A window in the middle of the hanger on the north wall, carved from a re-use material, retains traces of carved reliefs, suggesting a reuse of older elements.

Classified as a historical monument by decree of 5 April 1979, the church now belongs to the commune. Its history reflects the architectural and liturgical evolutions of the Lozère, between medieval heritage and modern adaptations. The sources also mention remains of painted decoration, typical of Occitan rural churches, as well as an approximate location (precision: 6/10 according to Monumentum).

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