Church of Saint Martin dans l'Allier

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Vilhain, located in Bourbonnais (Allier), is an emblematic building of the transition between Romanesque and Gothic art. Built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, it would have been erected by the Templars on the order of Bourbon Archambaud VI to defend Bourbon-l'Archambault castle. It housed a convent and cemetery, surrounded by water until the 19th century. However, the departmental archives (Allier, Rhône, Cher) do not confirm its Templar origin, although a nearby wood belonged to the Templar Commandery of Francheville in the 17th century.

During work in the 19th century, a stone with arms of the Dukes of Bourbon was discovered, suggesting a connection with Archambaud VI or a bastard son of the family. The church, registered as a historical monument in 1933, has a polylobic portal typical of the pilgrimage churches to Santiago de Compostela. Its arched nave of warheads and its cul-de-four apse (14th century) contrast with its 18th century bell tower, added after the disappearance of a medieval bell tower.

The restoration under way aims to restore its original structure and double-paned roof, prior to the 16th century. The capitals carved of foliage and the human-headed modillons bear witness to its rich Romanesque decor. The building, a communal property, remains a rare example of hybrid religious architecture, mixing military (fortification) and spiritual (pilgrimage) influences.

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