The Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens church in Nègrepelisse, in the Tarn-et-Garonne department, 15 km north-east of Montauban, was built in the 11th century by the abbey of Moissac, after the village was given to him by the Counts of Bruniquel.
Then offered to the Bishop of Cahors in 1270, the original building was rebuilt in 1460. During the Wars of Religion, the place of worship was occupied by the Calvinists. Its destruction will follow in 1622 when the village is taken by King Louis XIII. Only the bell tower and the flamboyant style portal are spared.
The church was rebuilt in 1645 following a single nave plan with a flat apse with side chapels. However, the bell tower is integrated into the new building and turns out to be one of the most remarkable in the region, 49 m high and ending in the form of a Toulouse-style pyramid.
Having become dilapidated, the church was rebuilt again in the 19th century by the architect Jules Bourdais, who used new techniques. He thus designed cast iron columns at the side aisles to provide the nave with remarkable visibility and luminosity.
The 15th century Toulouse-style bell tower, resting on a covered porch, has been preserved, reminiscent of the Saint-Sernin basilica. For the rest, the whole is inspired by neo-Gothic then in vogue but also by some Romano-Byzantine touches (composition in three parts of the building).
Inside, painted decorations were created in 1902, and the stained glass windows were designed by master glassmaker Dominique Rigaud.
The church also houses a painting inspired by Rubens evoking Calvary, depicting Mary Magdalene and the Thieves.
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