NOTRE-DAME-DE-L'ASSOMPTION CHURCH

The legend attributes the foundation of the abbey of Saint-Cérase to Clovis. He would have wanted to honor the saint who evangelized the region in the^5th century. It suffered heavy damage during the Saracen invasion in 722, then with the passage of the Vikings in the 9th century. The return to calm from the 10th century onwards allowed it to become richer. The Council of Aix-la-Chapelle in 817 recognized the right of the region not to owe the State any military service or tribute. In the absence of taxes, all the income from his lands went to him. The monks began rebuilding and enlarging the chapel at the end of the 12th century. The abbey became a de facto parish church with the relocation of the inhabitants of Simorre around the abbey in 1141. The new church was consecrated in 1309. Note its Romanesque capital from the beginning of the 12th century, its nave, the cupolas of the crossing and its choir vault with stars discovered in the sacristy in 1964. Some of the stained glass windows are very old and also date back to the consecration of the abbey church. For example, the four-lancet stained glass window above the chevet was donated in 1357 by Bernard de Lafite, the abbey's prior. The stained glass window representing Saint Cerats (in the south transept) was commissioned by the abbot of Labarthe around 1500. But it is the stalls from the end of the 15th century that are most admired. They are distributed on both sides of the choir and frame the abbot's seat. Only the armrests are ornamented.