Église Saint-Pierre de Saint-Marcel-Paulel, Church in Saint-Marcel-Paulel, France
The Église Saint-Pierre de Saint-Marcel-Paulel is a listed historic church in the village of Saint-Marcel-Paulel, in the Haute-Garonne department of France. The 16th-century building has outer walls built from foraine bricks in a warm red tone, with a blue portal that breaks up the plain facade.
The first written mention of the church dates to 980, though the current building was constructed in the early 16th century. The bell tower collapsed in 1727 and was rebuilt in 1729 in the local Toulousain style.
The church opens its doors to the public once a year during the European Heritage Days, drawing visitors who would otherwise have no access to the interior. On that day, visitors can see the hand-painted murals covering the walls, depicting scenes from the New Testament including the Last Judgment.
The church stands in a visible spot at the center of the village of Saint-Marcel-Paulel and is easy to reach on foot. The interior is generally only open on special occasions, so it is worth checking in advance when access is possible.
The bells inside the tower are hung on yokes shaped like "demoiselles", a rare design made by the Toulousain bell-founder Louison. One of the two small stone angels that decorate the portal had lost its wings at some point, which were only put back during a restoration in 2004.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
