 The
ancient Cathedral Saint Pierre in Maguelone.
Access: by the Palavas road (D986), instead
of turning left in Palavas direction, go right in the
direction of Maguelone and to stop at the carpark.
It is on an island linked to the continent since the
XVIII century. To reach it, it is necessary to stop
at the carpark and to go for a three kilometers stroll
or to take the small train available only during the
summer. This Christian fortress was built at the beginning
of the Middle Ages. Maguelone became Evêché
in the VI century, it was however destroyed in 737 by
Charles Martel after being taken back from the Sarrasains.
The villagers then established Villeneuve-le-maguelone
on the other side of the pond. In the XVI century, Montpellier
became again Evêché. In 1875, the Cathedral
was restored by Frédédric Fabrège
who bought it beforehand. Today, it is a CAT (Center
of Assistance by Work). This cathedral is our christian
heritage showing the strengh of Christendom, it is a
true fortress. It was built to ensure a srategic point
of defense and has all the architectural techniques
of defense used in the Middle Ages. Its very thick walls
are provided with tiny openings to shoot arrows. More
than just a cultural visit the tour of the Cathedral
and the stroll leading to it make it possible for the
visitors to see the beauties of nature and the cultural
richnesses of Herault.
Church
of Saint Paul de la Conversion in Frontignan
Parish - street St Paul
34110 Frontignan Peyrade
Tel.: 04.67.48.11 .49
Guided visits during the season every Wednesday at 3 pm,
departure from the museum (Rue Député Lucien
Salette).
This church dates back to the twelfth century, it explodes
of the more recent churches montpelliéraines
by its massive aspect of Romance style (original southern
wall). It was rebuilt in XIVème century in a
typical Gothic style of the south of France, having
only one nave. It is a fortress of defense, which was,
at a certain time, integrated into the walls of enclosure
of the city, its elevated tower was useful for defense
of the city. This Church is thus the one time testimony
when the churches were used as refuge and required architectural
techniques of defense which explains its imposing aspect.
It was renovated in its original form after the destruction
of installations which had been operated during the
nineteenth century. The visit of this church can be
coupled with the visit of the museum of local History.
Cathedral Saint Etienne
(Agde)
Quai du chapitre
34300 Agde
This very beautiful church was built with the stones of
dark lava extracted From the Mont Saint Loup which lays
close by. The original construction was destroyed, the
current one, from Roman style goes back to a rebuilding
implemented at XIIème century. This fortress has
impressive walls of almost three meters width with doubled
machicolations of a covered way, it shelters in addition
a square keep. As many testimonys of its role of defense
at the time medieval where the area was the theatre many
armed conflicts.
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