Saint-Gaudens Heritage and culture

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The inside
The
Collegiate
church
Discover the church and its cloister
Situated in the old Diocese of Comminges, the
church of Saint-Gaudens was until the Revolution,
collegiate of the cathedral of St-Bertrand de
Comminges. It was home to a ‘College’ of ‘Canons
Ordinary’, a community founded by Bishop Bertrand. In a charter dated from 1059, the bishop Bernard II
began the construction. It is dedicated to saint Peter
and saint Gaudens and it’s situated on the way
to Compostella. At the end of the twelfth century
they built the galleries, the cloister and the chapter
room. The architecture is influenced by the Spanish
Romanesque and “Languedoc” styles of the 11th and
12th century. The building was burnt during protestant
wars and then it was damaged during the
Revolution. It was restored during
the 19th century. The church
was classified as Historic
Monument in 1841.
e The collegiate church of saint Peter
and saint Gaudens
The present church measures
40 meters long, 21 meters wide,
16 meters high. The 11th century
Romanesque church is built on the
typical Pyrenean plan as a basilica
with three naves.
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The Aubusson tapestries
These were woven at the Manufacture
Royale d’Aubusson, probably during the
second half of the 18th century. Two tapestries
were stolen from the Collegiate Church in
the night of December 20, 1989 but were
discovered in the United States and reinstated
September 26, 1997 on National Heritage
Weekend. “The Martyrdom of St Gaudens”;
“The Triumph of Faith”, “The Transfiguration
of Jesus on Mount Tabor”
The Martyrdom of St Gaudens:
height 3.20m - lenght 7.40m.
All the events surrounding the legend of the
martyrdom of Saint Gaudens are brought
together in this tapestry.
In the center, the kneeling figure of the young
shepherd, Gaudens, is decapitated by a
soldier at a site outside
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the city named ‘La Caoue’. On the right, in the
middle ground, there flows the ‘Miraculous’
spring at la Caoue. A small figure is seen
walking towards the town, carrying his head
in his hands. This is none other than the
young Gaudens. In the background there is a
drawn panoramic view of the city of Saint
Gaudens as it was in about 1760.
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The organ
The case seen today dates from before 1662.
It is a large and imposing piece in oak and
lime wood, in the style of Louis XIV. It was
listed as a Historic Monument in 1980. The
instrument was built by Dominique CAVAILLECOLL in 1831. Restored in 1875. Listed as
an Historic Monument in 1971 and restored
between 1981 and 1984.
The outside
D
CHEVET
The exterior is largely due to extensive work undertaken
in the 19th century, which has significantly changed the roof,
the bell tower and decoration of the apses. On the north side, the portal
of the 17th century overlooking the square, replaces the original Romanic portal.
The “chrisme”
In the tympanum, a beautiful monogram of the 12th century.
It could be an ancient fragment of the original portal.
It is carved from a square block of marble. At each corner,
an angel supports the monogram of Christ: the X and P
intertwined, with the alpha (Į), omega (Ω) and sigma (∑),
symbols of Christ the Savior.
B
The bell tower
The three upper floors and the heavy spire of the tower,
45 meters high, were built in 1874. It houses 36 bells,
including the largest “Gaudense” weighs 1130 kg.
C
The turrets
On this face, the tower features a canted stairs to a
passage arranged in the depth of the wall to access
the galleries.
D
The “chevet”
On the lower part of the Romanesque “chevet”
(oriented east), you can discern traces of the original
windows opening in the southern and central apses
below the present windows.
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The chapter house
The chapter house where the canons met, dates
back to the 13th century. It has a beautiful gothic
vault with a central pillar. Holy Michel is sculpted
on a key of vault.
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The cloister
Sold as a national asset, the cloister was destroyed around
1810. It was rebuilt in 1987 on the foundations of the original
cloister using capitals and restored plaster
casts of works kept in museums and private
collections.
The north gallery represents the most
beautiful capitals of the Romanic
period with rich tracery sculptures in
zoomorphic or historical motives. “Saint
Peter and the apostles” reminds us that
the church is dedicated to him, as saint
Jacques is honored on this path of Saint
Jacques of Compostela.
The Romanic part extends into the western gallery, while the
eastern part is gothic.
ABSIDIOLE
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APSE
ABSIDIOLE
5
CHOIR
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3
EASTERN PART
1
F
CENTRAL
NAVE
C
2
ENTER
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The Romanic capitals
The most interesting decorated
capitals, work of Spanish mastercraftsmen (Aragon), are in the
sanctuary. Sculptors who came
later from the workshops of Toulouse
carved the leafy capitals in the nave and
at the entrance. The decoration of the capitals
of the pillars of the last three bays is of a
toulousian influence: acanthus leaves, palm
leaves, plants decoration.
The choir stalls date from the 17th century,
severely damaged during the Revolution and
restored on the 19th.
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2
SPANS
WESTERN PART
3
A
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3
4
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NARTHEX
N
S
O
B
KEY
A
The «chrisme»
B
The bell tower
C
The turrets
D
The «chevet»
E
The cloister
F
The chapter
house
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The central nave
The tapestries
The capitals
The organ
The stalls
Urban trails
Discovering the city of
Saint-Gaudens
p History and architecture
of Saint-Gaudens and Comminges
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LASTS
APPROXIMATELY 1H30
You will discover the heart of the city,
its monuments, architecture and some
of character witnesses of our history.
e Tourist Office
Open from Monday to Saturday:
From 9 am to 12 am and from 1:30 pm to 6 pm
Please note summer opening times can vary.
Shop for regional products. Photo gallery visits free.
r Collegiate church of saint Peter
and saint Gaudens
Masterpiece of Romanesque Art 11th-12th
centuries. Open from Monday to Saturday:
From 9 am to 12 am and from 2 pm to 6 pm.
Free visits or guided visits for groups
on reservation:
05 61 94 77 61 / (00) 44561 947761.
t Romanic Cloister
Masterpiece of Romanesque Art 12th-13th centuries,
sculptured capitals depicting biblical stories, chapter room of the 13th century. Elements of the
cloister of the Jacobins exposed.
Square Armand Marrast, politician born in 1801
in Saint-Gaudens.
u Museum (temporary closure)
A neo-classical building from 1875. China
collection of Bleu de Valentine -19th. Arts and
popular traditions. Paintings of the painter Rixens.
i The 3 Marshals’ monument
Marshals Foch, Joffre and Galliéni,
natives of this region.
o Viewpoint the indicator
Panorama of Pyrenees. Below, a monument in
memory of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, american
sculptor whose family is from Aspet.
Town hall
Post office
«House of
community»
Cinema hall
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Theatre Jean Marmignon
Cyberbase / MJC
Others places of interest
a Public garden Eugène Azémar
Convent gallery of the Cistercian
abbey of Bonnefont 12th century.
s Eugène Azémar
1887-1940
Founder of the tourist office
in 1922 and in 1925 of the
automobiles – motorcycles
circuit of the Comminges.
d Chapel St-Jacques
Contemporary art center,
paintings exhibitions,
architecture, creations…
Contact : 05 62 00 15 93
chapelle-st-jacques@wanadoo.fr
www.lachapelle-saint-jacques.com
LASTS
APPROXIMATELY 2H
You’ll enjoy the most beautiful views
of the Pyrenees and you’ll discover
the Automobile Circuit of Comminges
and the river plain of Garonne.
f Saint-Gaudens, a fortified city
Map of the medieval age, walls of 11th century enlarged
in the 14th century: streets of ditches, ramparts…
Ancient “Bank of France” /
Corn exchange 1845.
A The boulevard of Pyrenees
Raised walk in front of high Pyrenean summits.
Cycle track and health circuit.
g Square Saint-Raymond
Around the square, several buildings have housed
the offices and laboratories of the oil company which
operated the first natural gas field discovered in France
in Saint-Marcet. (13 km from Saint-Gaudens).
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Panoramic view of the western Pyrenees
and the Garonne plain. André Abbal’s
sculpture direct size, pupil of Rodin.
Building of Bank “Caisse d’épargne” , the ancient convent of the
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Jacobins.
Legend of Saint-Gaudens :
«La Montjoie»
Martyr place of the young Gaudens.
Fountain and the Caoue chapel,
19th century, Neo-Romanic style.
g3 Architecture of the old town
Half timbered houses with exterior gallery
oriented south.
Trade and Industry Room, ancient convent of the Visitandines.
Pyrenees Garonne
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Automobiles-Motorcylces Circuit
of Comminges 1925-1954
Pilots, cars and motorcycles of legends:
Pozzi, Villoresi, Dreyfus, Trintignant, Ascari…
Guided Tour
Tourist
office
of Saint-Gaudens offers you:
Discover our patrimony with tours guides:
t Church and Cloister
t City tour
t Gallo-roman Villa of Valentine
t Saint-Bertrand de Comminges
t Saint Just de Valcabrère
Treasure
hunts
Enjoy discovering the
city with your family,
ask the tourist office free
notebooks for 6/8 years
old and 9/11 years old.
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AROUND SAINT-GAUDENS
tDisplays of local products art
and craft and farm produce of the
Comminges exhibited at the office.
tSaint-Bertrand de Comminges,
Saint-Just de Valcabrère and Luchon.
Grands Sites Midi-Pyrénées.
tGargas caves, the Gallo-Roman
villa in Montmaurin, Valmirande castle...
Tourist office of Saint-Gaudens
2, rue Thiers - 31800 SAINT-GAUDENS
Phone : 05 61 94 77 61 - Fax : 05 61 94 77 50
info@tourisme-stgaudens.com
www.tourisme-stgaudens.com
Open all year round
From Monday to Saturday: From 9 am to 12 am and from 1.30 pm to 6 pm
Please note summer opening times can vary
Crédit photos : Office de tourisme du SaintGaudinois, Ciné photos club Commingeois, GB.
Photo exhibitions
Souvenir shop
Must