Churches

Back to the past

Discover the history of  the val de Sioule and the val d'Allier, crossing and visiting  its wonderful villages. Many traces of Burgundian and Benedictines are still alive into theirs numerous Romanesque churches. A little inheritance, spending buildings, old castles enjoy valleys and beautiful little towns.

BAYET
Saint Marcel , XIIth-XIIIth centuries - Listed
Romanesque church composed by a nave with 3 rows adjoined aisles, finished in east by an apse and its two apsidioles. Saint Marcel, evangelist, patron of the parish of Bayet, martyred. Till 1775, nobles and parish priests were buried in this church.

Open every day except on monday

BÈGUES
Saint-Aignan, XIIth  century, Listed Historic Building
Romanesque church with a church tower, porch, frescos (XVth century) adorning the tympanum of the west door and a bell (XVIIIth century).

Open everyday


BELLENAVES
Saint-Martin, XIth-XIIth centuries
In town, overhangs the village. Indisputably inheritance master piece of Bellenaves. This is the result of imbrication of two successive monuments built in XIth and XIIth centuries where the influence of Romanesque style of Auvergne, Berry and Burgundy are mingled, the last one is obvious on the wonderful tympanum of the “Last Supper” or in the Washing of the Feet.

Open everyday – Visit on booking Appointment : Point Info Tourisme
04.70.58.39.75.

BIOZAT
Saint-Symphorien, XIIth century - Listed Historic Building
Pure Romanesque style of Auvergne, with a central nave erected and adjoined aisles in half-barrel vault, historiated capitals, frescos (XVth century), carved woody statues (XVIIth century). Built on the ruins of a very old castle which moats are still visible. Eight-sided church tower pure style of major churches in Auvergne. Third row and façade built end of the XIXth century. Spire edificated in 1860, rebuilt in XXth century lower than previous one.

Open everyday.

BOUCÉ

Notre-Dame, XIXth century.

Neo-Romanesque, built on the former site of the church “Notre-Dame de la Jolivette” realized by the architect Mitton. Church-windows made by Mailhot.

Open every day.

BRANSAT
Saint-Georges, XIth – XIIth centuries – Listed Historic Building
Romanesque church with one nave and two adjoined aisles. Dome transept crossing supported by a little vault with adorned capitals (well preserved). One of those capitals represents the Seven Deadly Sins : the others bear foliages, griffins and medieval musicians considered as unique.
Contact : Mairie (town hall) – 04.70.45.40.91.

 

BROÛT-VERNET
Saint-Mazeran, XIth-XIIth centuries. Listed
Built at the beginning of the XIth century by Saint Mazeran, parish patron. Romanesque chevet Auvergnat style, adorned chancel with a mural painting  done between 1530 and 1540 representing Saint Mazeran. Steeple and façade modified in the middle of the XIXth century. Sarcophagus supposed of Saint Mazeran visible outside.

Open everyday.

CESSET
Saint-Barthélemy, XIIth-XIXth centuries
Eight-sided steeple of a Romanesque church. Church-window recently created : wine harvest in the area of Saint Pourçain. Others church-windows also recently restored. Sole parts of the former period : apse, transept and a part of the stone of the steeple (the rest  dated XVIIIth century). Extension and repairing in XIXth century.
Contacts : 04.70.45.67.71, 04.70.45.89.94. ou 04.70.45.31.75

CHANTELLE
Saint-Vincent, XIIth century
Priory church founded in 937 close to the former church Saint  Vincent which was included in the enclosure of the castle. New church built  in Romanesque Auvergnat style. Very nice historiated capitals. Monastery deserted during French Revolution, moved back in 1853 by the Benedictines of Pradines. Abbey recognized in 1864 by the Pope, but in 1890 canonical setting-up..
Appointment for groups : 04.70.56.62.69
Free visits for individuals outside the hours of the masses.

Saint-Nicolas,XIXth century
Built on the ruins of the former church in a Neogothic style (symmetry, severity, absence of decoration) by an architect originating from Avignon, builder of the cathedrals of Hippone (nowadays Annaba) in Algeria and Carthage in Tunisia.

Visits outside the hours of the masses.

CHAREIL-CINTRAT
Former church Saint-Blaise, XIth century
One of the oldest in this area (estimated end of the Xth century). Resists during French Revolution, but at the end of the XIXth century, a private bought this church and pulled down the steeple, and that leads out the destruction of the chancel. Bought-back by the State and abandonned in aid of a new devoted monument in 1881.

Contact : 04 70 56 94 28

CHARMES
Saint-Martin, XIIth-XIXth centuries
From the Romanesque period only remain intact the nave and the foundation of the steeple. Chancel equipped with an altar of which sculpture represents the Lamb of God. Steeple pulled-down during French Revolution, raised and covered on two occasions.
Contact : Town hall04 70 90 12 97

CHARROUX
Saint Jean-Baptiste, XIIth century –Listed Historic Building.
Chuch built by The Templar (who owned their commander’s residence at the bottom of the village) on the former city walls. Date of the period of the transitio between Gothic and Romanesque styles. Strange truncated steeple. Manage by an association of Priest (named locally ”Communalistes”) depending on diocese of Clermont. Wrecked in 1568 by the Protestant during the war of religion.
Open everyday. Guided  visits on appointment - Contact : Tourist Agency- Tél. : 04.70.56.87.71

CINDRÉ

Saint Pierre and Saint Martin XIXth century

Neo-Gothic style. Nave with 3 rows, cut-of corner and apse. Church-tower in façade.

Contact : Madame Rabotin - Churchplace - 04 70 57 77 51

CHEZELLE
Saint Jean-Baptiste, XIIth century
Inside of the church did up like new in XIXth century with suitable lighting system. Many statues very diversified to discover.
Contact : Town hall 04 70 56 63 80

(Monday afternoon and friday morning)

CHIRAT L’EGLISE
Saint Pierre and Saint Etienne , XIth-XXth centuries
Little Romanesque building, with a church tower, made with a nave of four rows, an extension of the semi-circle apse. Joined to the buildings of the former priory, sometimes called “the castle”.
Open everyday.

CHOUVIGNY
Saint-Roch, XVIIIth century
Old little chapel in sandstone property of the diocese of Clermont-Ferrand which took its actual design in 1760. Restored and equipped with adjoined aisles on the Duke of Morny’s request in 1860. Façade topped by a church tower with two semi-circular windows.

Open everyday - Contact : next door.

 

CONTIGNY
Saint Martial, XIth – XIXth centuries
Chevet, rows and transept of XIth century. Gothic windows bored in the back ground of the crossbars of the transept. Painting of  XVth century : a lady (the donor ?) and a knight prying together. Wonderful paintings of XVIIIth century : the Presentation  (the Virgin and Jesus) and Deposition. Additions in the XIXth century in the west part..
Open everyday from 8 h to 18 h

COUTANSOUZE
Saint Gervais and Saint Protais, 1861
New church built thanks to the descendant of the  Lavillaine’s family, former lords of Coutansouze.
Contact : 04.70.90.47.42 ( appointment only)
 

CrÉchy

St. Germain, XIIth century.

Little building, very simple : a nave with 2 covered barrel vault rows. One adjoined aisle in quarter-circle and in the east a chancel with a flat chevet.

Contact : Town hall 04.70.43.51.42

ÉBREUIL
Saint Léger, XVth – XVIIIth centuries – Listed Historic Building
Monastery founded in 906 by the Benedictines monks of  Saint Maixent  running away from Norman invasion with the relics of Saint Léger. Place of royal residence of  Louis le Debonnaire.
Open everyday.

ECHASSIÈRES
Saint Marcel, XIIth, XIIIth  and XIVth centuries
Romanesque architecture for the chevet, apsidioles, transept and a part of the church. This parish which depended of  the archdiocese of Bourges joined abbey of Ebreuil in 1111. Interior of the church entirely restored – exterior lights set in 1990 et 1991.
Open everyday

ESCUROLLES
Saint Cyr  and Sainte Julitte, XIth-XIIth centuries
Romanesque church, modifyed in XXth century. Usual theme in the apses, Christ in majesty, inside of a mandorle, brings in his left-hand the Eucharist and is surrounded with Tétramorphe. Chevet  showing a corbel décor and sculpted capitals..
Open everyday.