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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame du Roc-Vignonnet chapel, located in Antignac in the Cantal, is an emblematic building of the auvergnat Romanesque style. Founded in the 11th century as a priory under the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu, it was dedicated to Saint Robert, founder of this abbey. Its construction, mainly in volcanic tuff and gneiss bellows, staggered from the 11th to the 14th century, with a nave disappeared from the 15th century, probably destroyed by the Routiers or the Wars of Religion. The bedside, typical of the 12th century, consists of three semicircular apses arched in cul-de-four, decorated with modillons and cords with braid motifs.

The chapel experienced a gradual decline from the 18th century onwards, abandoned in favour of the parish church of Antignac. Definitely delayed at the end of the 19th century, its nave collapsed around 1930. Ranked a historic monument in 1930, it was restored in 2004-2005 to restore its cover. Its architecture blends a western facade in gneiss bells, surmounted by a bell tower, and an interior with carved capitals (lions, palmettes, interlaces). The bolt holes visible on the walls testify to medieval scaffolding.

According to historical sources, the priory of Vignonnet was founded before 1067, with the burial in 1094 of Seguin d'Escotay, 3rd Abbé of La Chaise-Dieu, in the church. A medieval charter also mentions a castle and a chapel dedicated to Saint Victor on the site, although their exact location remains uncertain. Used as a pilgrimage chapel, it was attached to the parish of Antignac in 1826 after the Concordat. The northern absidiole houses a vaulted cavity, perhaps an undetermined ossuary.

Access to the chapel, perched 1 km west of the village, is via a steep walking path, rebuilt in 2021 after the collapse of the old road in 2020. Its isolation and architecture make it a rare testimony of auvergnat Romanesque art, marked by the influence of La Chaise-Dieu and local stone-cutting techniques.

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