Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Nicolas de Nonette, located in Puy-de-Dôme in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, is a religious building marked by three periods of construction: the 12th century for its Romanesque part (Western gate, base of the bell tower and first three spans of the nave), the 14th century for its two Gothic eastern spans, and the 15th century for its flamboyant Gothic southern porch. It was both parish and prioral, dependent on the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu, and its history is linked to the close presence of the castle of the Counts of Auvergne and the Duke of Berry, dominating the village until 1634.

The Western Romanesque portal, classified in 1976 and then integrated into the church's overall ranking in 2023, is distinguished by its sculpted sculptures representing flowers, animals, characters and monsters. His tympanum, probably redesigned, shows an angel surrounded by a lamb bearing a cross (Agnus Dei) and a mermaid. Inside, the capitals of the Romanesque part and the decorations recall those of the nearby church of Mailhat, with patterns like monsters devouring a turtle or sirens. A marble bust, called the Beau Dieu and assigned to a commission by Duke Jean de Berry, is also preserved.

The architecture of the church reflects its successive transformations: the unique nave, extended by a flat bedside, has five side chapels added in the 15th century. The current bell tower, rebuilt in 1895 on a Romanesque basis, is inspired by regional models. The 15th century south porch and the interior capitals illustrate the transition between Romanesque and Gothic styles. The building, owned by the commune, thus bears witness to the artistic and religious evolution of the region, from its medieval role to its contemporary heritage protection.

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