NOTRE-DAME DE LUZANET CHURCH

The full name of this country chapel planted in the middle of the vineyards is Notre-Dame de l'Assomption de la Vierge Marie. For a long time, it was thought that it was built by the bishop of Condom Jean Marre in the 15th century. But local historians now support other theses. The building was served by a priest and a rector even before the episcopate of Jean Marre. On the other hand, the coat of arms of the de Galard family appears on the keystone of the sacristy. One can thus think that the family was the sponsor of this small church in the person of Herald de Grossoles, owner of the castle of Pellehaut. Its flamboyant gothic style dates back to the 16th century, even if the powerful buttresses on the north façade were added in the 18th century, probably to support the building. The size of the interior with its three-vessel nave, side aisles and ribbed vaults may come as a surprise in this remote corner of the countryside. The sculpted and painted keystones represent characters whose identity is unknown. The church has undergone many heavy restorations. In 1984, it was in a state of ruin. It took the will - and the financial means - of a whole region to save this church from total destruction. The chief architect of the Historic Monuments bends over backwards. It will take 30 years of work, divided into several stages, and an unfailing mobilization to restore all its splendor to this humble church.