Penne-d’Agenais - Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Peyragude

Penne-d'Agenais is a small town with a long history of military conflicts. In the 13th century, the Cathars were persecuted here. During this crusade, the place was conquered by the crusaders under Simon IV de Montfort after fifty days of siege.

During the Hundred Years' War, Penne-d'Agenais was sometimes French, sometimes English. In 1373, the English set fire to the city before surrendering it to Bertrand du Guesclin, who had besieged it for three months.

In the middle of the 16th century, the Huguenots and Catholics were at war in Penne-d'Agenais. After the existing sanctuary was completely destroyed by the Protestants, the Catholic army took the town after 99 days of siege

The plague broke out in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1653, after the end of the epidemic, the people of Penne-d'Agenais vowed to rebuild the church of Notre-Dame de Peyragude.

In the 19th century, the construction of a new sanctuary was undertaken. This building of style Romano-Byzantine was only completed in 1948.