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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of the Sacred Heart of Aurillac, built in 1937 by architect Pierre Croizet, embodies a "rationalist" neo-Roman style inspired by southwestern cathedrals and Byzantine domes. It is distinguished by its structure in two levels: a low church surmounted by a high church with a single nave, covered with a dome with a false transept. Its square bell tower, adjacent to the southern facade, is decorated with a monumental statue of Christ bearing the inscription "PAX 1935", carved by Georges Bigeard. The building combines local granite, Murat stone and reinforced concrete, reflecting a fusion between tradition and modernity.

The interior of the church opens to modern art with figurative and abstract stained-glass windows signed Marguerite Huré, bas-reliefs by Claude Bouscau, as well as paintings and mosaics made by the Mauméjean workshops. These decorative elements, combined with bold architecture, make the Sacred Heart a significant witness to the artistic and religious innovation of the twentieth century. The building, owned by the Diocesan Association, was listed as a historic monument in 2006 for its outstanding heritage value.

The church is part of the religious landscape of Aurillac alongside two other major buildings: Saint-Géraud and Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges. Its architecture, both rooted in the Cantalian region and oriented towards Mediterranean and Orthodox influences, illustrates a desire for stylistic renewal in the inter-war period. The statue of Christ, dated 1935, and hybrid construction techniques highlight this duality between local heritage and universal aspirations, characteristic of the monuments of this period.

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