Le Castelas
This is the first parish church dedicated to Saint Bardulphe. It already existed in 1195 and appeared on the list of possessions of the Abbey of Saint Andrew of Villeneuve.
Romanesque in style, remodeled in the 1608th century, its vaulted choir dates from the first half of the 1641th century. The particularly remarkable set of wall paintings dates back to 1954. The nave has kept its holy water font but has lost its baptismal font, now in the village church. It retains two bells: the western one cast in XNUMX and the southern one in XNUMX.
In 1189, Bishop Rostaing of Avignon gave the church of Saint Bardulphe to the Benedictine abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve. The north chapel was dedicated to the worship of Saint Alzias and the south chapel, through which one currently enters, to Mary.
In August 1562, the Lutherans and Calvinists took control of the region. The churches were destroyed. François de Beaumont, better known by the sad name of Baron des Adrets, ravaged the south-east of France. Renowned for his cruelty, he is credited with numerous massacres, and in his race to supply besieged Montpellier, he is said to have destroyed the churches of Saze and Aramon. Fires were frequent during the Wars of Religion and even more intense in the last third of the 1623th century. Historians believe that the Castelas was rebuilt with stones from the city's fortifications destroyed by order of Richelieu in XNUMX.
Between 1595 and 1634, minor restoration work was carried out, and the bell tower was built in its current form. Despite this work and the many requests from residents to the Abbey of Saint Andrew, the church deteriorated.
In 1729, the Saint-Joseph chapel was built on the initiative of Pierre Palijay, a notable from Rochefort. Worship was held there until the new Saint-Bardulphe church or lower church (the current church) welcomed the faithful. This date marks the disaffection of the Castelas church. Rented to farmers, it served as a hayloft and when "city water" arrived in Rochefort (1963-1964) the municipality converted it into a water tower. Supplied by the Vaujus spring, cisterns with a capacity of 250 m3 supplied the homes before being destroyed in the 1970s. At the beginning of the 2013st century, the Castelas became a meeting and performance hall. In 2015, it was listed as a Historic Monument and in XNUMX was the subject of a restoration program during which the murals were brought to light.
In 1189, Bishop Rostaing of Avignon gave the church of Saint Bardulphe to the Benedictine abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve. The north chapel was dedicated to the worship of Saint Alzias and the south chapel, through which one currently enters, to Mary.
In August 1562, the Lutherans and Calvinists took control of the region. The churches were destroyed. François de Beaumont, better known by the sad name of Baron des Adrets, ravaged the south-east of France. Renowned for his cruelty, he is credited with numerous massacres, and in his race to supply besieged Montpellier, he is said to have destroyed the churches of Saze and Aramon. Fires were frequent during the Wars of Religion and even more intense in the last third of the 1623th century. Historians believe that the Castelas was rebuilt with stones from the city's fortifications destroyed by order of Richelieu in XNUMX.
Between 1595 and 1634, minor restoration work was carried out, and the bell tower was built in its current form. Despite this work and the many requests from residents to the Abbey of Saint Andrew, the church deteriorated.
In 1729, the Saint-Joseph chapel was built on the initiative of Pierre Palijay, a notable from Rochefort. Worship was held there until the new Saint-Bardulphe church or lower church (the current church) welcomed the faithful. This date marks the disaffection of the Castelas church. Rented to farmers, it served as a hayloft and when "city water" arrived in Rochefort (1963-1964) the municipality converted it into a water tower. Supplied by the Vaujus spring, cisterns with a capacity of 250 m3 supplied the homes before being destroyed in the 1970s. At the beginning of the 2013st century, the Castelas became a meeting and performance hall. In 2015, it was listed as a Historic Monument and in XNUMX was the subject of a restoration program during which the murals were brought to light.
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