Abbey of Sainte-Foy de Conques

This place may already have been inhabited in the Merovingian period, but the first known record of the hermit Datus (Deodatus) dates from the end of the 8th century. Datus was accompanied by Medraldus. The former retired to a solitary place, leaving Medraldus in charge of the incipient monastery, which had adopted the Benedictine rule. That first monastery was dedicated to Saint-Sauveur. In 819, Louis the Pious endowed the house and placed it under his protection. With the arrival of the relics of Saint Faith, the place acquired renown and the devotion of the faithful, leading to a period of religious and economic vitality. A valuable collection of goldsmith's work was soon assembled, of which a considerable sample is still preserved. A series of miracles took place during this period through the intervention of the saint, making Conques the center of a cluster of churches and possessions, both in the same region and in distant places. For example, in 1098, the bishop of Barcelona, Folc de Cardona, granted her the parish of Tagamanent (Vallès Oriental).

In the 16th century, it suffered the effects of the Wars of Religion. In anticipation of irreparable losses, the canons hid the treasure and the relics of Saint Faith, saving them from destruction. The collegiate church went through periods of looting in the same century, and in 1628 it was affected by a new episode of plague. Later, during the Revolution, the canons were forced to leave the abbey. Around 1830, part of the cloister was sold. The site was badly damaged, and there were no financial means to restore it. The writer Prosper Mérimée, then Inspector of Monuments Historiques, managed to prevent the ruin of the monument by classifying it in 1838. The treasure, which had been hidden and practically forgotten during the Revolutionary period, was also recovered. In 1873, Conques was occupied by a Premonstratensian community from Saint-Michel de Frigolet (Bouches-du-Rhône) and restored. It now belongs to the abbey of Mondaye (Calvados).

The original Romanesque roof lantern collapsed at an undetermined time, probably due to structural deficiencies, and was rebuilt between 1460 and 1490 using Gothic techniques. Later, following a fire, the interior pillars had to be reinforced. Inside, sculptural elements, capitals, and an interesting group depicting the Annunciation can be seen. The presbytery has a grille from the period. The massive façade is flanked by two bell towers, with little visible buttressing.