Saint-Pierre Church
SARAMON , Gers – Cultural heritage
About
The church of Saint Pierre is a major monument dating from the second half of the 11th century. Originally Romanesque, the church was remodelled in the 19th century.
In 1827, the building was in a very worrying state of disrepair, but there were not enough funds to undertake renovation work. In 1853, during the 10 o’clock mass, part of the vault broke away, injuring a man and his son. The following year, work was undertaken to repair the panelling, build 4 side chapels and restore the façade and the Saint-Victor tower.
Inside the church, in the chapel of the Sacred Heart, there is a large altarpiece painted in faux marble and gilded, dating from the 18th century. In the foreground is a slightly curved tomb altar with gilded foliage scrolls at the ends and a representation of the Sacred Heart in the centre. The panelled altarpiece is structured by 4 Corinthian pilasters surmounted by an arched entablature with dentil and coffered cornices above which are placed flame pots. The side panels feature Eucharistic symbols and the sacred heart.
Other remarkable features of this church include a grey marble font and a tomb altar. The marble font dates from the Visigothic or Carolingian period. It was originally a sarcophagus or funerary stele. Carved in the shape of a niche, the marble was probably intended to house relics. The tomb altar was surmounted in the 19th century by a large tabernacle with wings in painted and gilded carved wood, in the Baroque style with two tiers dating from the 18th century and of unknown origin. At the top of the tabernacle is a glory surrounded by putti, surmounted by a statuette of the glorious Christ.
The church of Saramon was also famous for its Tour Saint Victor, which collapsed in 2023, taking with it part of the history and heritage of the Gers region. The unique nature of this elevation of the Square Tower was also due to the enigma surrounding its purpose. The archives suggest several hypotheses: defence tower, sacristy, bell tower, additional sanctuary or the remains of a primitive church converted into a tower. No precise answer has yet been found to this mystery.
Spoken languages : French
