Saint-Firmin church in Gordes, walking distance from Rosier real estate

Near The Rosier agency and Gordes Castle, in the village center towards the theater terraces and the 'belvedère', a monumental church is found devoted to San Fermin, a bishop of the sixth century.

The Church of Gordes was rebuilt and enlarged in the eighteenth century on the foundations of an old church of the twelfth or thirteenth century, which was built at the initiative of the priors of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Chaffrez, the first abbey of the territory of Gordes, now in ruins.

She has eight chapels distributed symmetrically around the center aisle, some of which are dedicated to the brotherhoods. To understand the value of it, one must observe the economy at the time. Thus, the guild of shoemakers, plentyfull in eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the first chapel entering on the left, stands a picture of Saint Crespin, the saint patron of shoemakers, accompanied by Saint Simon, the saint patron of the quarry. To the right is the chapel of Saint Eloi, the saint patron of blacksmiths, ironmongers and locksmiths, who was bishop but also finance minister of King Dagobert, still known today by the children's nursery rhyme of Dagobert « la culote à l’envers »!

The organ, still in working condition, is located above the front porch.

At the back, in the heart of the church, above the master hotel, one can see the traces of the 1909 earthquake as a crack ripped the paintings. These paintings are a reminder of the style of some Italian church with many relatively warm colors.

Seen from outside, it is a huge building with is relatively visible from the south, despite many nested buildings. Its dominant position seen from the south is reinforced by the its promontory shadow.

To the north, the bell is housed in a tall square tower whose construction is dated between the two churches (around the XIV century). This tower was probably an old belfry. Still visible today and being used as a storage to one of the restaurants, we find at its base the door of an old prison. It was located right next to the pillory.

Finally, the rectory is located between the heart of the church and the former Saint-Jacques chaplaincy. If you go there, watch a weird door opening towards the ground ... it's a drawbridge system that was used before to enter and exit the priest's car!