CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

The church of Prades is located on the banks of the Tarn River, in the village of the same name. Its plan is in the form of a Latin cross, with a single nave and two side chapels near the polygonal apse of the chancel. The building is constructed of small limestone blocks, assembled in the same way on the semi-dome vault of the apse as on the pointed arch vault of the nave. This gives the whole structure an aesthetic appeal. The two arches of the side chapels are formed of larger, lighter-colored stones than the rest of the building, lending it a refined appearance. The church also houses a painting of the Crucifixion, which is of considerable quality: against a dark background reminiscent of a twilight sky, Christ on the cross is surrounded by the Virgin Mary, Saint Mary Magdalene, and Saint John. The coat of arms depicted at the bottom of the painting is almost certainly that of the patron.