Notre-Dame-de-la-Daurade is one of two churches in the historic town of Tarascon-sur-Ariège.
It was built in the 16th century on the foundations of an earlier 11th-century edifice. It takes its astonishing name from the golden statue adorning one of its interior chapels.
Shortly after its construction, the church suffered considerable damage during the Wars of Religion, notably in 1568, and was even dedicated to Protestant worship until 1599.
In the 18th century, it was finally restored: the former transepts were incorporated into the choir, which was covered by a ribbed crossing. The nave's trapezoidal floor plan and buttresses, which are exclusively internal, are also noteworthy. As for the portal, it has been redesigned to imitate medieval models (double arches).
In terms of furnishings, a gilded wooden altarpiece in the chancel frames paintings by the 18th-century Toulouse school. Louis XIII-style pews have also been preserved.
The church is also panelled in walnut wood. The building has been protected as a historic monument since 1990. However, in 2016, during restoration work, blue-white-red wallpaper was uncovered, dating back to the Revolution, when the church was for a time transformed into a "temple of Reason". They were later hidden by paintings forming an altarpiece. This discovery is considered unique.
Shortly after its construction, the church suffered considerable damage during the Wars of Religion, notably in 1568, and was even dedicated to Protestant worship until 1599.
In the 18th century, it was finally restored: the former transepts were incorporated into the choir, which was covered by a ribbed crossing. The nave's trapezoidal floor plan and buttresses, which are exclusively internal, are also noteworthy. As for the portal, it has been redesigned to imitate medieval models (double arches).
In terms of furnishings, a gilded wooden altarpiece in the chancel frames paintings by the 18th-century Toulouse school. Louis XIII-style pews have also been preserved.
The church is also panelled in walnut wood. The building has been protected as a historic monument since 1990. However, in 2016, during restoration work, blue-white-red wallpaper was uncovered, dating back to the Revolution, when the church was for a time transformed into a "temple of Reason". They were later hidden by paintings forming an altarpiece. This discovery is considered unique.
