Notre-Dame de Peyremale Church

About

Perched on a rocky outcrop, the church of Notre-Dame de Peyremale overlooks the valley.

Although it may have been built between the 11th and 12th centuries, there are no historical sources to indicate a definite date for the foundation of the church of Peyremale, nor even to suggest who commissioned or built it. This church may even have been originally a simple castle chapel. It has always been known as Notre-Dame de Peyremale and remained under the authority of the Bishop of Uzès until the Revolution.

The original Romanesque church was modified several times to meet the needs of the community, notably with the addition of a semi-ogival chapel, a gallery and a bell tower in the 15th century.

The church of Peyremale is built of irregular flat stones of brown sandstone, with slate roofing, reflecting the local building materials. The western façade is topped by a squat, blind bell tower, while the window frames and corner chains are made of light-coloured sandstone. The building has a cruciform plan, with two side chapels forming a false transept. The nave has a broken barrel vault, as do the chapels, while the apse is semi-circular

The north chapel still has traces of reddish paintings representing the signs of the zodiac, separated by double lines. These remains bear witness to the symbolic and spiritual importance of the church. The building is stylistically linked to the group of churches in the region, which are of the Bonnevaux type.

Did you know?
Originally, there was a small fortified complex on the rocky outcrop where the church of Peyremale now stands. This strategic site, mentioned as early as 1052, bears witness to the defensive and religious importance of the region in medieval times.

Spoken languages : French

Location