Our Blog - Loop Trip - Valence-sur-Baïse, France

Since we were visiting the nearby Abbey, we decided to check out the village of Valence-sur-Baïse. It is quite small, just over 1K people. It is a hilltop fortified town founded in 1274. The church dates from the 14th century and is flanked by two towers.

The town hall square, an arcaded square typical of country houses, has 3 of the wells of the village.

Pretty much the only thing in the village to see is the Eglise Saint Jean-Baptist. Built shortly after the creation of the bastide, it has been modified several times but has retained its medieval plan and monumental Gothic portal. The rose window above the doorway was added in 1863. You can also see how the tower on the right, with the clock, is a different color than the one on the left. Around the same time as the rose window was added, an identical tower is added on the right side, equipped with a clock, and the 2 bell towers are joined with a gallery.

The interior looks very plain, with a lower ceiling than I would have expected from looking at the church from the front. I did like the altarpiece on the side wall, with a bas-relief in the lower-middle section that has lost most of its color. The main altar is a bit more lavish, which I would guess was added/redone with the other changes in 1863.