Assier, a former commanderie
The Church of Saint-Pierre d’Assier is located in the peaceful village of Assier, near Figeac.
The church’s history is intertwined with the history of the village, which developed around a commanderie founded in 1280 by the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
The monks recognised the fertility of the arid lands of the Causses of Quercy, ideal for sheep grazing, and thus introduced sheep farming to the region.
Assier has preserved its agricultural roots and still holds a weekly sheep market where local producers offer grains, fruit, chestnuts, and other regional products.
Saint-Pierre d’Assier, a church dedicated to the glory of Galiot
The village’s jewel is undoubtedly its church, a listed historical monument.
The Church of Saint-Pierre d’Assier was built in the 1540s and is the only Renaissance church in the Lot department!
It serves not only as a place of worship, but also as a showcase for the life and exploits of Jacques Richard Genouillace, known as Galiot de Genouillac, squire to King Francis I.
Galiot participated in the Battle of Marigna in 1515 alongside Francis I, a battle that ended in a resounding French victory.
Impressed by Galiot’s bravery in combat, the king rewarded him with a small fortune, which allowed him to build his castle on the site of the former fortified commandery.
Galiot built the Church of Saint-Pierre d’Assier at the same period, and had the exterior decorated with sculptures and frescoes depicting his military exploits. Indeed, the only Christian reference is a statue of the Virgin Mary blessing the villagers, located above a side door!
All the other sculptural elements indeed glorify Galiot and his military exploits. The tympanum depicts Galiot’s coat of arms offered to the Virgin, while angels on the door bear messages proclaiming “Long live Galiot!”
But it is the bas-relief frieze surrounding the church, representing the battle swords he supplied, the cannons unleashing fire and destruction, and the cannonballs ready to defend his castle, that gives an idea of Galiot’s immense ego! Even the interior keystones display his coat of arms.
It is therefore not surprising that Galiot chose to be buried in his church. Galiot would undoubtedly be delighted to know that his Renaissance funerary chapel, his tomb, and his commemorative plaque are all listed as historical monuments.
Department of Lot
Coordinates Assier: Lat 44.674942 – Long 1.878026
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header and Tympanum by MOSSOT CC BY-SA 3.0 – Church by Krzysztof Golik CC BY-SA 4.0 – Castle by akial CC BY-SA 2.0 – Header by MOSSOT License – Castle frieze ©Evelyn Jackson
