Notre-Dame de Belvezet chapel and the village of Saint-André

A place of prayer

"Belvezet" or "beautiful view": this chapel takes its name from its location on a rocky outcrop, from where it dominates the village dwellings. Built in the middle of the 12th century, it served as a parish church for the inhabitants of the village until 1293, when the church of Saint-Pons was built in the "Ville neuve" (new town), created by King Philippe le Bel. It would continue to serve the fort's garrison.

This chapel is typical of Romanesque art: the barrel vault of the nave ends in a semicircular apse serving as the choir. The tribune was added later, certainly to accommodate more worshippers.

The position of the altar, very close to the apse wall, is a vestige of the era when the priest officiated with his back to the congregation.

Inside the chapel, there are several traces of paintings: opposite the entrance, a 14th-century fresco depicts Christ crucified between the Virgin Mary and Saint John; in the apse, fragments of a frieze with figures, probably Romanesque, can be seen.

The chapel's walls also feature another peculiarity: stain marks! These are the imprints engraved by the stonemasons to identify their work and thus be fairly remunerated for it.