Saint-Roch Church

The neighborhood you walk through, the square you enter, even the church you approach — everything points to one man: Saint Roch. Originally from Montpellier, the city of which he is the protector, Saint Roch is known as the healer of plague victims and the patron saint of all pilgrims. Although he is invoked worldwide, his cult is rooted in France, in our beautiful Languedocian capital. It was therefore natural that a place of worship worthy of the name be dedicated to him. Built in the 19th century, Saint-Roch Church stands on the site of the former Saint-Paul Church, which disappeared during the atrocious Wars of Religion. At that time, the mayor of the city envisioned an ambitious urban plan to transform Montpellier. He drew his inspiration from the works of Eugène Haussmann in Paris, with whom he maintained regular correspondence. He wanted to create boulevards, widen certain thoroughfares, develop squares, and build places of worship with a refined and imposing appearance. Saint-Roch Church, supposed to be one of them, unfortunately did not receive this preferential treatment. Due to an excessive municipal debt, which even the abbot’s lottery failed to cover, the construction of the monument was abruptly halted. As a result, a list of architectural details are missing. This is the case for the great spires, the bell tower, the statues meant to stand in the niches of the main façade, etc. As for the furnishings, there too, they made do with what they had by reusing what had been preserved from the old Saint-Paul Church. Thus, as you continue your visit inside, you can admire paintings signed by Cabanel, known as one of the greatest academic painters of the Second Empire. Nonetheless, what is lacking in embellishments is made up for with relics, as you can approach relics of Saint Roch, such as his tibia bone brought back from Venice. Resplendent, even in the trompe-l’œil facing it, Saint-Roch Church is an essential part of Montpellier’s historic center.