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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Saint-Flour, located in the city of the same name, is authorized to be built in 1323, with works extending until the 15th century. This monument illustrates the local architectural style, with a unique nave of five vaulted spans on cross-pieces of warheads, supported by foothills housing side chapels. The polygonal choir, surrounded by five chapels, and the massive defensive bell tower, flanked by an octagonal turret, make it a remarkable building.

During the French Revolution, the church underwent major changes: the vaults of the nave were removed, a span was reduced to the west, and the building was decommissioned. It then becomes a hall, then a municipal depot for equipment. After centuries of secular use, especially as a covered market until the 1980s, the church was completely restored between 2005 and 2008. Today, it serves as a covered market in winter and as an exhibition space in summer, while being listed as a historic monument since 1946.

The architecture of the church reflects local specificities, with a square bell tower with defensive functions, typical of the religious constructions of the region. Its history, marked by periods of decline and rebirth, reflects its adaptation to the changing needs of the community. The protection it enjoys underlines its heritage importance in the department of Cantal and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

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