Aspiran : Saint-Julien Church

The church is mentioned in documents from the 12th century, during a list of the property of the Aniane Abbey. There remains from the first building the north wall, which is part of the current construction, erected between 1260 and 1314. The vault of the choir dates from 1514, and the other vaults are also later, because originally, the church had a carpent roof with two slopes. One of the vaults of the nave indicates the year 1616, which could refer to an intrusion of armed men at this place and the date of the repair carried out. The church was fortified to serve as a refuge. By raising the lateral floors, a level was added above the old roof. Small embrasures, potentially used as Archères, have been pierced at regular intervals. These defensive constructions could date from the second half of the 14th century, a period marked by truckers' attacks in the region. A building that has now become nonexistent, adjoining the rear wall of the church, served as a presbytery and a rest house for the religious of Aniane. The church has three naves and is divided into four spans, including that of the choir which is much shorter. A square building, adjoining the north novel wall, supports the current bell tower. Later, a screw staircase with a full nucleus was added to this tower, resulting in the abolition of the vault. The main sanctuary is five sides, each side being lit by a large semicircular window. The lateral sanctuaries also have five sides inside, but are rectangular outside. The south portal is in the third span of the nave. The capitals of the three columns are decorated with simple leaves. The north portal is located between the Romanesque bell tower and the buttress of the third span. This portal has two twin inputs, the berries of which are surmounted by an imposing archivolt. The moldings are based on a series of carved crows.