Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Church, located at La Chapelle-Laurent in the Cantal, is a Catholic building dating back to the thirteenth century. His choir, the only vestige of the Romanesque period, has been preserved until today. This five-paned apse-shaped choir is covered with a cul-de-four decorated with carved capitals representing foliage and claws. The archatures in the middle of the hanger and the columns topped by volutes testify to a remarkable architectural know-how for the time.

In the 16th century, the church underwent major changes with the addition of two lateral chapels forming a false transept. These transformations reflect the evolution of the liturgical and aesthetic needs of the local community. The nave, on the other hand, was later remodeled, and a modern bell tower was added, marking several distinct construction phases. The broken doubleau separating the nave from the choir, received on committed columns, illustrates this transition between Romanesque and Gothic styles.

The church has been partially classified as historical monuments since 17 September 1969, with specific protection for its choir. Architectural similarities were noted with the church of Saint-Mary-le-Plain, suggesting a common origin or artisans shared between these two buildings. These observations, highlighted by historian Pierre Moulier, highlight a rare case of "binocular" churches in Haute-Auvergne, built at the same time and using comparable techniques.

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