Morlaàs - Sainte-Foy

In 1080, when Morlaàs was in its heydays, the building of this church started by Centulle V, Viscount of Béarn, who had to make an atonement.
Morlaàs developed to an important "étape" on the Via Tolosana at that time. As the church was dedicated to St. Foy there was a kind of "link" to Conques. The church burnt down in 1520, got severely damaged in 1569. During the French Revolution the church turned to a "Temple of Reason". The restaurations of the 19th century saved the structure.

Viollet-le-Duc lead the restoration of the portal, seen here. As everywhere, where he worked (eg "Carcasonne", "Vézelay"), he "recreated" and "completed", what today is sometimes disputed. The perfect condition of the portal is a result of this restoration.

I had been here twice before and now finally the portal was cleaned. For decades this had been a gathering place for the pigeons of the town.