Eglise Saint-Sixte
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Sixte, located in Lamothe-Fénelon (Département 46), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Lamothe-Fénelon, Département 46, Occitanie
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8353, 1.4140
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00095122
Perched high up in the Quercy region, the church of Saint-Sixte de Lamothe-Fénelon combines a Romanesque apse with late Gothic fortifications: its machicolations and five-arched bell tower make it a unique defensive gem.
History
In the heart of green Quercy, in the land of limestone plateaux and deep valleys that was Fénelon's birthplace, the church of Saint-Sixte de Lamothe-Fénelon stands out as one of the most unusual buildings in the Lot department. Dedicated to Saint Sixtus - the martyred pope of the 3rd century, a rare figure in southern hagiography - it combines two seemingly contradictory architectural logics: the gentle spirituality of the Romanesque apse, rounded like a prayer, and the military severity of its façade bristling with machicolations. What makes Saint-Sixte truly unique is its western gable: crowned by a campanile pierced by five superimposed arches, it forms a silhouette unlike any other in the region. Far from being a simple wall-belfry, this tier of openwork arches seems to defy gravity while letting in the light and the sound of the bells with an almost baroque generosity. Below, the row of machicolations is a reminder that the Hundred Years' War had a profound effect on religious architecture in Quercy, transforming many sanctuaries into fortified refuges for the civilian population. The visit begins at the forecourt, where the eye can take in five centuries of overlapping history in a single glance. Inside, the sculpted keystones and arches catch the eye: stylised plants, expressive faces and geometric interlacing bear witness to the skills of the Quercy region's 15th-century stonemasons. The remains of wall paintings, now fragmentary, give an idea of the original polychromy of the building. Finally, a polygonal turret adjoining the façade offers the most adventurous visitors access to the row of machicolations: from this defensive gallery, you can see the Romanesque tiled roofs of the village and, on a clear day, the wooded undulations of the white Quercy. A must for anyone travelling along the Dordogne valley between Souillac and Sarlat.
Architecture
Saint-Sixte church has a simple longitudinal plan, typical of rural parish buildings in the Quercy region, but enriched by striking stylistic contrasts. The semi-circular apse, a Romanesque remnant from the 10th-11th centuries, stands out for its carefully carved blonde limestone units and discreet modillions: it expresses the serenity and continuity of southern Romanesque art. The nave and choir, rebuilt or extensively altered in the 15th century, are late Southern Gothic in style, with ribbed vaults whose keystones and arch recesses are beautifully decorated with carvings of foliage, expressive heads and geometric motifs. The western façade is the centrepiece of the building. Its row of machicolations - projecting brackets supporting a crenellated parapet - gives it a distinctly defensive appearance, a hybrid between sanctuary and fortress, so characteristic of the "fortified churches" of south-west France. Adjacent to this façade, an above-ground polygonal turret housing a spiral staircase provides access to this defensive gallery: this circulation element, refined in its polygonal section, reveals a certain technical mastery. At the top of the gable, the belfry with its five superimposed arches is the most spectacular feature: its semi-circular, openwork and rhythmic bays lighten the mass of the bell-tower wall while ensuring that the sound of the bells spreads out into the valley. The whole structure is built of local limestone, a blond to beige stone depending on exposure, which takes on golden hues in the setting sun.
Related Figures
Saint Sixte II — pape martyr (258), dédicataire de l'église, figure christologique rare dans le QuercyFrançois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fénelon (1651-1715) — archevêque de Cambrai et auteur du Télémaque, originaire de la seigneurie éponymeLes vicomtes de Turenne — puissants seigneurs médiévaux dont l'influence structura le territoire autour de Lamothe-FénelonMaître d'œuvre anonyme du XVe siècle — concepteur du campanile à cinq arcades et des fortifications de façade
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Sixte located?
Eglise Saint-Sixte is located in Lamothe-Fénelon, Département 46 department, Occitanie region, France.
When was Eglise Saint-Sixte built?
Eglise Saint-Sixte dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise Saint-Sixte open to visitors?
Eglise Saint-Sixte is currently closed to visitors.
