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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Thiviers church, located in Dordogne, has an original structure marked by major transformations. According to Felix de Verneilh, it was initially covered with two Byzantine cupolas (one on the nave, one on the transept), which is now missing. Abside in hemicycle, redone in the 13th century with a flat background, and the enlargement of the nave by two spans (one supporting the bell tower) testify to a significant architectural evolution. The capitals of the 12th century, preserved in the transept and the choir, illustrate a simple but picturesque performance, characteristic of regional Romanesque art.

In the 16th century, major changes took place: the nave was entirely vaulted with agglomeration, and the collapsed domes were replaced by star vaults (1511 for the transept, 1515 for the nave), as evidenced by the engraved dates. A ruling of the Bordeaux Parliament in 1503 even ordered the allocation of the Archpriest's income to repairs. The courière, a rare element in Périgord, is preserved under the vault, highlighting the influence of the churches of the South-West. This work reflects the structural challenges and stylistic adaptations of the time.

The nineteenth and eighteenth centuries were marked by critical restorations. In 1782 the bell tower was repaired, while in 1852, a report by architect Bouillon revealed the absence of foundations, threatening the stability of the building. The works undertaken between 1860 and 1865 (south coast, foothills) and the reconstruction of the bell tower and western facade by Jean-Louis Labbé in 1882 saved the church from ruin. In 1886, additional reinforcements (double walls, foothills) were made. In 1926, the church also retained stained glass windows from the late 19th century, including one signed by Lucien-Leopold Lobin.

The church's heritage interest lies in its primitive Romanesque capitals (XII century) and its turbulent architectural history, illustrating the transitions between Byzantine, Gothic and neoclassical styles. The sources, such as the writings of Felix de Verneilh or the reports of architects Bouillon and Labbé, document these developments, although certain claims (such as the existence of the domes) remain debated for lack of material evidence. The building thus embodies the challenges of conservation and the historical strata of a major rural monument in New Aquitaine.

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