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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Cybard church of Tamniès, located in the eponymous village of Dordogne, has its origins in the 12th century, as evidenced by the remains of its early nave, located at a lower level than the present one. This monument, originally linked to a Benedictine priory that was not a conventual dependent on the abbey of Sarlat, was part of the Archpriest of St Andrew's Allas. The wars marked its history: looted in 1414 during the Hundred Years War, then occupied in 1592 by the Protestants led by the Baron of Beynac during the Wars of Religion.

The nave, rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries on older foundations, presents a third-point arch opening onto a chapel in the 18th century bays. The transept square, supported by chamfered consoles, precedes a choir decorated with five arches. The bell tower, a rectangular massif of three campanary bays (18th century), also served as a defensive reduction, accessible by an elevated door. The bedside, originally semicircular, was partially reconstructed polygonally.

Ranked a Historical Monument in 1978, the church illustrates architectural adaptations related to conflicts and liturgical needs. Drilling under the current nave suggests a lower soil level in the 12th century, reflecting structural changes over the centuries. The communal property today houses a heritage combining Romanesque, Gothic and classical additions, witness to the historical upheavals of the region.

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