Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Daurade

English translation

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History

Archaeological remains from the 6th century. The primitive church, into which Rigonde, daughter of Chilperic, would have taken refuge in 584, was said to have received the name Santa Maria Deaurata because of the whole of mosaics on a gold ground which decorated the walls of the original decagon. The ensemble, described in the 17th century by the Maurist Odon de la Mothe, was destroyed in 1761. In the Carolingian period, the Daurade is mentioned as a Benedictine "monasterium". In 1077, the monastery becomes a Cluniac priory attached to Moissac. The edifice is then completed by a nave whose apse occupies the initial rotunda, and a cloister on the south side. During the 17th century, the congregation of Saint-Maur settles there and restores the monastic buildings. The first plans of the new church are established by the architect Franque in 1764. Work interrupted is resumed in 1773 with a new architect, Philippe Hardy. New resumption of work under Napoleon, then consecration of the church in 1838. In 1884, construction of the colonnade and the pediment. Painted decoration by Bénézet. The basilica takes on a Latin cross plan with a deep choir and semi-circular transept arms. In elevation, the edifice uses the principle of arcatures separated by heavy square pillars emphasized by monumental pilasters of Corinthian order. At the crossing rises a groin vault in cupola form. The vault of the choir forms a half-dome.