Arrout Church

Arrout Church: Templar remains and 19th-century treasures

Built in 1847 on the site of an old chapel, Arrout Church bears witness to the village's religious and heritage history. Its slate roof is a reminder of the importance of slate quarrying in Arrout in the XNUMXth century. The building has retained a homogeneous interior decoration, typical of the XNUMXth century, which is particularly well preserved.

The bell tower bears a bell dating from 1528, a vestige of an even older past: that of the old chapel, of Templar origin. This chapel, dependent on the commandery of Montsaunès en Comminges, served the agricultural possessions of the Templars in the area. This fact is hardly surprising when you consider that Arrout is located on one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela.

An exceptional Romanesque portal
A remarkable feature of this Templar chapel remains: a semicircular portal, dating from the 13th century, in the late Romanesque style. Now integrated into the interior of the church, this portal is richly sculpted, a rare find in the region. The four arches and their capitals feature a profusion of motifs: human heads, rosettes, owls, and other decorative elements, the symbolism of which remains sometimes mysterious, but always fascinating.

A small treasure of religious art
The church of Arrout also houses a small treasure trove of religious art, recently installed, which completes this journey through the centuries and expressions of faith.

Working Languages

• French

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