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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint Martin de la Chabasse, located in Olliergues in Puy-de-Dôme, is a religious building built during the second half of the 15th century, and subsequently rebuilt in the 17th and 19th centuries. It consists of a single nave of three spans, a half-hexagon choir separated by a 17th century wrought iron grid, and a triumphal iron arch of the same period. Two lateral chapels, later added, open in the north wall. The bell tower, initially razed in 1793 during the Revolution, was rebuilt in 1852 by architect Matthieu Vially, who also supervised the consolidation of the walls, the repair of the pavement and roof in 1850. The roof of the bell tower, originally made of oak shingles, was replaced by slate.

Inside, the painted decoration dates back to 1722, while the double arch above the south door has a carved key representing the Eternal Father, accompanied by a Gothic inscription. Former parish church of Olliergues, the building became a chapel after the Revolution. Its bell tower, a remarkable element, is accessible by a round tower staircase housed in the southwest corner. The building, inscribed in the Historical Monuments since 1928, illustrates the architectural and liturgical evolutions between the Middle Ages and the modern era, with traces of major restorations in the 19th century.

The 19th century interventions, led by Matthieu Vially, were aimed at stabilizing the structure after centuries of use and revolutionary damage. The reconstruction of the bell tower in 1852 marked a key step, as did the laying of the slate roof, replacing the traditional shingles. This work reflects the heritage concerns of the time, combining preservation and adaptation to local cultural needs. The church, owned by the commune, today preserves an architectural and artistic testimony of the 15th, 17th and 19th centuries in Auvergne.

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