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Origin and history

The Saint-Laurent church of Villars, located in the Loire, was built at the end of the 19th century to respond to the population growth caused by mining activity. The old church of St Andrew, attested as early as 1378 and rebuilt in the 15th and 17th centuries, had become insufficient. It housed the heart of Jean-Louis Mathevon, a baron who died in Russia in 1812 and whose family owned the adjacent castle.

In 1856, the decision to build a new church was made, and work began in 1860 under the direction of architect Montagnac. In a neogothic style, the building is 35 metres long and includes 22 stained glass windows, some of which are offered by local donors. The bell tower, completed between 1868 and 1870, peaks at 43.10 meters. A bell from 1807, still in use for langélus, is installed there.

The church was blessed in 1862, but elements such as a St. Lawrence statue and two rosaceans remained unfinished due to lack of funds. In 1878, the heart of Jean-Louis Mathevon was transferred from the old church. In the 20th century, major renovations took place, notably in 2006, where an ambitious restoration saved the building threatened by wet lifts. The frame is replaced by a laminated structure, and glass windows are added to illuminate the interior.

Today, the Church of St. Lawrence, attached to the parish Blessed Antoine Chevrier, hosts Masses, concerts and cultural events. It symbolizes both the religious heritage and the industrial history of Villars, marked by mining. Its bell tower, recently enhanced by new lighting, dominates Gambetta Square, the historic heart of the village.

The old church of St Andrew, transformed into a wedding hall, and the castle of Mathevon, renovated in the 1980s to house the town hall, complete this site full of history. The two churches illustrate the architectural and social evolution of Villars, from medieval lords to 19th-century miners.

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