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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Bonnet de Chastreix, located in Puy-de-Dôme, is a religious building built in the early 14th century. On a rectangular plane, it consists of a unique nave of four spans, the last of which forms the choir. The committed columns of the first three spans rest on crowned heads, while the capitals are decorated with human or plant motifs. A porch, added in the 15th century on the south wall, supports a bell tower accessible by an outside staircase turret.

The church was listed as a historical monument on February 7, 1907. Its history was marked by major restoration campaigns: in 1825, unauthorized work on the bell tower, damaged by a storm in 1842, led to its partial collapse in 1843. The repairs, carried out until 1846, included the reconstruction of the north wall and the belfry. In 1873, a sacristy was backed by a bedside, condemning a primitive door. The belfry, rebuilt in 1895, and the stained glass windows installed in 1944 complete the notable transformations.

The church furniture has several classified objects: a bell of 1561, a 16th century baptismal tank, a reliquary and a 17th century retable (restored in 1815). A wooden statue of Virgin in majesty, stolen in 1983, was part of this heritage. The building, originally donated in 1060 by Bernard de la Tour to the priory of Sauxillanges, does not retain any trace of its primitive structure. A church of the thirteenth century, now disappeared, preceded it.

The architecture reflects local techniques, such as the typical auvergnate crow cornice. The choir bays, which were condemned when the altarpiece was installed, were reopened during the 19th century restorations. The arch keys, including that of the porch dated 1845, bear witness to successive work campaigns. The roof, completely redone in 1947, and the windows of 1944 mark the last major interventions.

Owned by the municipality of Chastreix, the church remains a characteristic example of the rural religious architecture of the Auvergne, mixing Gothic elements (dogive vaults) and later additions. Its south porch, surmounted by the bell tower, and its nave without a sideline make it a sober model but representative of small mountain churches.

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