The oldest church in Pau takes care of his mosaics

Some lose their colors and widen. In other places, the ground lifts and forms bumps. It is to understand what is happening that the city of Pau has commissioned experts. It is this work upstream of any restoration that the city of art and history mission made a Saturday to discover in Palois, through one of its heritage visits.

A Dordogne company

And for the occasion, the group was entitled to two guides: Cécile Tison the head of the Mission City of Art and History and Nicolas Plasson of Socrates, a company specializing in the conservation, restoration, reproduction and production of works of art and monuments located in Dordogne.

The writing advises you

Threatened with ruin (read below), the Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague church experienced a rebirth in the 19th century^e century. It was enlarged through a column to the west and the soil of its choir and the two side chapels was covered with mosaics. A work due, despite the research of Cécile Tison, to a craftsman signing: “P. Rozand” but remaining unknown. “There are gaps in the archives on this subject. This man is not referenced in Aquitaine. But it’s just that we have not yet searched in the right place or that the documents are in the private field, “does not despair the professional.

Codes to decipher

The choir floor is covered with a carpet representing the papal emblems in the center, like the keys of Saint Peter and the Tiara. On the one hand, badges represent the saints through the instruments of torture from which they suffered. Thus, Saint André is represented by a cross in X, on which he was crucified.

On the opposite side, families of families are visible. And in particular the one who financed the mosaics. It is Annabella-Frena-Frena-Craigie, widow and rentière who lived a few years in Pau. Born in England, she died in 1892 at the age of 69 and was buried in Kent. His motto says, in Latin, “nisi cum re”, translated by Cécile Tison by “if not something”. “It surely had a meaning for them, which we lost today,” explains the guide.

“Saint-Martin is classified as a historic monument, so we can hope for funding. This is not the case with Saint-Louis de Gonzague. ”

Without forgetting on each side of the altarpiece, two animals: the dog which represents fidelity to faith and the hare which is the symbol of paganism. In the chapels, the patterns are less elaborate, representing simpler geometric shapes or lily flowers.

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Temperature and humidity

It was in the North chapel that Nicolas Plasson discovered the greatest number of cracks. “The nef floor is tarmac, it is waterproof. The humidity can only go up by the sides, ”he gives as a first explanation. The company has installed climatic probes to record variations over 12 months. “Temperatures can also influence,” he adds.

In several months, it will make a diagnosis to the city with three intervention proposals, the first being purely aesthetic and the third proposing to deposit the whole mosaic. “It must be necessary,” says the expert well. Because we can also transplanting on a case -by -case basis. And there are also advice of good practice, in this place of living heritage. You can offer to avoid putting a carpet – which keeps humidity -, or restrict the passage of the public to a place. »»

Without forgetting the question of cost. “Saint-Martin [où les mêmes expertises ont été menées il y a un an, NDLR] is classified as a historic monument, so we can hope for funding. This is not the case of Saint-Louis de Gonzague which is a remarkable heritage site. We must find the right balance, we are not Notre-Dame ”, nuance Cécile Tison.

The city of Pau has launched a consultation with three companies. But between the year of study and decision -making by the public authorities, one to three years are flowing. Then comes the time of the site, about a year.

It almost disappeared in the 19th century

“The city does not conceal any medieval heritage, because it was razed in the 19th century^e A century to build churches that can accommodate more people, ”recalls Cécile Tison well the manager of the city of art and history mission. It is therefore the Saint-Louis chapel of Gonzague which is the oldest church in the city. Who remains the owner of the premises, such as Saint-Jacques, Saint-Martin and Saint-Jean-Baptiste du Hameau. Initially intended to be the main chapel of the Royal Jesuit College Neighboring, its construction began in 1679.
After the dissolution of the order under Louis XV, “it served as a reserve of wood and coal, a fodder store, a playground and even a horse riding school during the French Revolution”, learned a document made available to visitors. “At that time, we even thought of shaving it,” said Cécile Tison. But ultimately restoration work is carried out and the church becomes an annex to Saint-Martin, also used for the offices of the Lycée Barthou. Served by the priestly fraternity of Saint-Pierre Saint-Louis de Gonzague, it offers Masses in Latin.