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Origin and history

The church of St. Peter of Uzerche finds its origins in a mention from the 6th century by Rurice the ancient, bishop of Limoges, evoking a monastic sanctuary. Pépin the Brief would have carried out work there around 760, but the whole was destroyed by the Normans in 860. Reconstructed around 980, the monastery and church suffered a fire in 1028, before being restored shortly afterwards. The construction of the present building began around 1030, with a solemn consecration in 1095 by the bishops of Limoges and Périgueux.

In the 12th century, the church took its final form, although older elements remained. The monastery was definitively destroyed in the 15th century, while the church, which became a collegiate church in 1747, was assigned to the parish in 1801. In 1575, the Viscount of Turenne ransacked the abbey, and in 1622, lightning destroyed an arrow higher than current. Ranked a historic monument in 1840, it underwent extensive work in 1910, particularly at the bedside.

Architecturally, the church is distinguished by its crypt, its walk-through and its radiant chapels. The bell tower, the most remarkable part of the outside, dominates the city of Uzerche. Its turbulent history reflects the political and religious upheavals of the region, from the Norman invasions to the wars of Religion.

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