Former Church of Notre-Dame à Vertaizon dans le Puy-de-Dôme

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The ancient church of Notre-Dame de Vertaizon, built between the late 12th and late 13th centuries, rises on the site of a pre-existing castral chapel. The nave and the lower side, erected at the end of the 12th century, were followed by the choir and the bell tower, completed a century later. The building, which had been abandoned since 1892, saw its nave and bottoms disappear gradually in the 20th century, leaving only two large arcades, the crypt and the north porch.

In the 13th century, the bishops, who became owners of the adjacent castle, initiated the construction of this parish church. The choir, its two side chapels and the bell tower, still intact, bear witness to this period. The architectural decoration, composed of carved capes and capitals (masks, badges, lily flowers, foliage), as well as traces of murals, reflects local medieval art. The building, classified as a Historic Monument in 1982, now belongs to the commune of Vertaizon.

The protected elements include the choir, the two side chapels, the crypt and the ruins of the nave. Although partially in ruins, the site retains a major heritage value, illustrating the architectural and religious evolution of the region in the Middle Ages. The location, noted as "passable" (5/10), and photos licensed under Creative Commons (MOSSOT credit) document its current state.

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