Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint Bartholomew originated in the 11th century, when Dom Humbert, canon of Limoges, received relics from Saint Bartholomew reported from Benevento in Italy. He had a first church built to house them, consecrated in 1028. The village, then named Secondlas, was renamed Benevento in honor of the saint. The influx of pilgrims, attracted by the relics and via Lemovicensis (path of Compostela), already motivated his fame.

In the second half of the 12th century, a new, larger Romanesque church was erected in a single countryside to replace the original building. This building, still visible today, was classified as a historical monument in 1862. The architect Paul Abadie led his restoration in the 19th century and offered a stained glass window decorated with his coat of arms. The church became abbey in 1458, consolidating its religious and heritage status.

The building is distinguished by its polylobed porch inspired by the Mozarab style, 145 grimaçant modillons, and 38 capitals carved from monstrous or animal figures. Inside, the vaulted nave in a broken cradle, the absidial chapels, and the reliquary bust of Saint Bartholomew testify to his rich past. Dom Humbert's lier and the tombstone of Abbé de Naillac, located in the crucifixes, recall his abbey history.

Located on a major jacquarian route, the church benefited from its position to radiate spiritually and artistically. The relics of Saint Barthélemy, combined with its successful Romanesque architecture, made it a place of devotion and stage for medieval pilgrims. Its early ranking (1862) emphasized its heritage importance, while subsequent restorations preserved its integrity.

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