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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Saint-Genès de Thiers, located in the medieval center of the city, is an emblematic building combining Romanesque and Gothic art. Built from the sixth century, it is dedicated to Saint Genes, a Christian martyr beheaded in the Creux of Hell. The first structures of the current Romanesque building date back to the 11th and 11th centuries, with major changes in the 13th, 16th and 19th centuries. Ranked a historic monument in 1846, it was the first Thiers building to obtain this distinction.

The church is based on the location of a 6th century sanctuary, destroyed during the Sarrasin invasions in the 9th century. Rebuilt in the 11th century by Robert I, Count of Auvergne, it houses a canonial chapter from 1016. Saccaded by the Huguenots in 1568 (loss of the bell tower), it underwent a radical restoration in the nineteenth century: the west facade was rebuilt (1860-1863), the original porch destroyed, and a new bell tower erected in Volvic stone. These works reveal a 12th century Romanesque mosaic, classified since then.

Its architecture is distinguished by an octagonal dome of 102 m2 (the largest of Auvergne) and a nave wide of 9,50 meters, vaulted dogives in the 13th century. The southern façade preserves Romanesque elements noticed by Prosper Mérimée, while the Gothic chapels (XVI-17th centuries) bear witness to Thiers' economic prosperity, linked to cutlery. Inside, the murals, the 17th century stalls, and a classified organ (1853) illustrate its rich heritage.

The interior decoration includes a baroque altarpiece dedicated to Saint Eloi (1686), patron of cutlery, and stained glass windows depicting religious and artisanal scenes. Among them, a northern window symbolizes Paradise and Hell, reflecting medieval beliefs. The 12th century mosaic, exposed since 2018, is inspired by Byzantine motifs and attests to the cultural exchanges of the period.

Classified as a historical monument and protected by the preserved area of Thiers, the church remains an active place of worship (parisse Saint-Roch-en-Durolle) and a major tourist site. Its bell tower, visible from the plain of Limagne, dominates the urban landscape. Classified objects include the organ (1980), the stalls, and a stone tomb of Volvic (1993).

Its history reflects religious upheavals (Religion Wars, Revolution) and successive architectural adaptations, while preserving rare novel elements. Today, it embodies both the spiritual heritage and the artisanal identity of Thiers, the former capital of cutlery.

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