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Origin and history

The Collège Sainte-Austrésile de Saint-Outrille, located in the Cher department, is a former dependency of the Collège Saint-Austrésile de Bourges. Its history is marked by close links with the chapter of Bourges and the local lords of Graçay. The village, originally named Nundray (Nundriacum in Latin), adopted the name of Saint-Outrille with reference to the dedication of the collegiate, itself linked to the bourgeois collegiate.

The construction of the college began at the end of the 11th century with the choir, designed according to a Benedictine plan comprising four spans and an apse in the hemicycle. The transept was added in the 12th century, while the Gothic nave and western facade date back to the 15th century. The sacristy was built in the 19th century. The building was classified as a historic monument in 1886, after being looted by Protestants in 1562, who destroyed much of its archives.

The chapter of the collegiate church, mentioned as early as 1014 in a charter of Raimbaud, lord of Graçay, enjoyed privileges granted by the local lords, such as Regnaud de Graçay in 1203. However, persistent conflicts between the Bourges and Saint-Outrille chapters, notably in 1106, 1180, 1211 and 1255, led to a financial transaction in 1255. In 1411, the antipap John XXIII brought together the chapters of Saint-Aoutrille de Bourges, Graçay and the Sainte-Chapelle de Bourges, marking an ecclesiastical reorganization.

The architecture of the college reflects its historical evolution: the Romanesque choir, the 12th century transept and the 15th century nave. Its bell tower, covered with chestnut shingles, is a remarkable feature. After the Revolution, the chapter was abolished, and the collegiate church became a parish church, maintaining its central role in local religious life.

The size of the building shows its importance: 35 metres in total length, a 21-metre transept, and a 11.20-metre choir. These elements, combined with its early classification as a historical monument, highlight its heritage and architectural value in the Centre-Val de Loire region.

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