The municipality of Toulouges is receiving financial support of €15,000 from the Fondation du patrimoine. This aid is dedicated to the preservation of the Romanesque portal of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, one of eight buildings selected in France in 2026 for the 'Romanesque Heritage' program.
This program aims to support the safeguarding of remarkable Romanesque buildings. The selection of the Toulouges church thus allows the town to receive this significant grant for its portal's restoration.
The official cheque presentation took place on September 30th, in the presence of several local officials and foundation representatives. Among them were Nicolas Barthe, Mayor of Toulouges, Aurélie Pastor-Barnéoud, Deputy Mayor for heritage, Father Étienne Lafaye, parish priest, Daniele Barchetta, heritage architect, and Joël Filhol, departmental delegate of the Foundation for the Pyrénées-Orientales.
This meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the next steps for the building, including the start of crypt excavations planned for mid-October and preparations for the 2027 millennium of the Pau i Treva community.
The portal restoration is part of a broader project for the preservation and enhancement of the church. This comprehensive program also includes work on interior plastering, stained glass, the altarpiece, and lighting.
A donation drive, launched in partnership with the Fondation du patrimoine, remains open to support this ambitious project. Individuals and businesses are invited to contribute to the safeguarding of this historic edifice in Toulouges.
This mobilization complements the funding already sought by the City, notably the support obtained through the 'Romanesque Heritage' program.
