Sainte-Croix-Vallée-Française (Lozère)

The Boissonnade chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary in 1063, became a Protestant temple around 1560.

The oldest edifice in Lozère

La Boissonnade temple in Sainte-Croix-Vallée-Française (Lozère) © O. d'Haussonville

The small roman style chapel, built in black Cévennes granite, comprised a nave and apse ; its slated roof was topped by a small steeple with a bell. It was already used for Protestant worship in the 16th century.

At the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the temple was returned to the Catholics. The steeple was dismantled. The chapel was burnt down by the Camisards during a retaliation raid. The walls and vault remained standing.

In 1796, the church was sold as national property. After the Concordat was signed, it was attributed to Protestant worship. It is the oldest building in the Lozère region.

Sainte-Croix-Vallée-Française (Lozère)

Sainte-Croix-Vallée-Française

Itinerary to this location

Bibliography

  • Books
    • DUBIEF Henri et POUJOL Jacques, La France protestante, Histoire et Lieux de mémoire, Max Chaleil éditeur, Montpellier, 1992, rééd. 2006, p. 450
    • LAURENT René, Promenade à travers les temples de France, Les Presses du Languedoc, Millau, 1996, p. 520
    • REYMOND Bernard, L’architecture religieuse des protestants, Labor et Fides, Genève, 1996

Associated tours

Surviving Temples built before the Revolution

Some regions escaped destruction due to the late incorporation into France as was the case for Alsace because the Westphalia treaties specifically mentioned that the Edict of Fontainebleau should not...

Associated notes

Édit de Nantes (1598)

The Edict of Nantes (1598)

This was Henri IV’s major achievement : the terms of this edict ensured the peaceful coexistence of Catholics and Protestants and brought a stop to all hostilities in France after 36 years...
Cartouche de la carte des Cévennes «Le théâtre de la guerre dans les Cévennes avec les montagnes et les plaines des environs du Languedoc.» Nieuwe Caart van Sevennes. C. Danckerts Amsterdam 1703.

The war of the Camisards (1702-1710)

The « Cévennes war » was the name given in the 18th century to the guerrilla warfare that devastated the Cévennes in the early years of the century and tried to re-establish...
Lyon (69), intérieur du Temple de Paradis (1564)

Protestant temples : from the 16th century to the Revocation

In 16th century France Reformed services were held in former Catholic churches and in new buildings.
Demi-coupe du temple du Petit-Quevilly (Rouen, Seine-Maritime)

The architecture of 17th century churches

In the 17th century, Protestant religious architecture flourished all over France. Unfortunately few churches survive today – a large number were destroyed after only a short time.
Temple de Sainte-Croix-de-Caderle (Gard)

Sainte-Croix-de-Caderle (Gard)

An early roman chapel that became a priory in 1420 was used for Protestant worship in the 16th century.