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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church Saint-Martin de Cérilly, located in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is a religious building whose oldest parts, such as the choir, the transept and the cross, date from the primitive novel. The nave, built in the 12th century, and the lateral chapels added in the 15th century, illustrate its architectural evolution. The bell tower, Gothic style with an arrow from the seventeenth century, is one of the most remarkable in the region. Inside, a tombage dating from 1699 and baptismal foundations of 1669 testify to its rich furniture heritage.

Ranked a historic monument in 1913 for its bell tower and inscribed in 1933 for the rest of the building, the church underwent modifications in the 19th century, including the addition of a north chapel and a stair turret. Romanesque and Gothic capitals, as well as 19th-century murals, reflect successive artistic influences. The four-rolled western porch and the burgundy-type broken arch vaults underline its historical and architectural importance.

The early church consisted of a nave of five spans flanked by lower side, as well as a salient transept with two apsidioles in the hemicycle. In the 13th century, the bell tower was raised by an openwork octagonal floor, crowned later by a frame arrow. In 1645, the 77-foot high bell tower stone needle was reversed, marking a notable episode in its history. The building, owned by the commune, remains a major testimony of religious architecture in Bourbonnais.

A bubble of Pope Pascal II in 1100 confirms Cérilly's belonging to the priory of Souvigny, highlighting his historical and religious anchor. The successive modifications, from the 15th century vaults to the 19th century additions, shaped the church in its present form. The protected elements, such as the bell tower classified in 1913 and the church listed in 1933, attest to its exceptional heritage value.

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