Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of the Invention-des-Reliques-de-Saint-Étienne de Pigerolles, located in Gentioux-Pigrolles in New Aquitaine, dates mainly from the 12th and 15th centuries. It is distinguished by a single long nave of a pentagonal apse, whose choir is arched in cul-de-four. The sculpted baskets and modillons, typical of Romanesque art, as well as the three bays of the bell tower-wall, bear witness to its medieval heritage. The west façade, rebuilt in the 15th century, has a characteristic chamfered portal, while the cover, initially in stubble, was replaced by slate around 1860.

The patronage of the church returned to the abbey of Port-Dieu, stressing its link with local religious institutions. In the 19th century, the building underwent several repair campaigns: in 1841 urgent works were carried out on the structure, the roof and the bell tower, entrusted to Armand Blaise Dauphin. In 1860, the demolition of a vault arch by Antoine Dubost marked another phase of modification. The church, probably shortened by one or two spans, thus reflects a turbulent architectural history, between preservation and adaptations.

Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 20 March 1969, the church now belongs to the commune of Gentioux-Pigrolles. Its state of conservation, considered "passable" in terms of location, and its protected elements (nef, apse, bell tower-wall) make it a valuable testimony of the limousine religious heritage, between Romanesque heritage and post-medieval transformations.

External links