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Origin and history

Saint-Viance de Saint-Viance, a Romanesque religious building, dates mainly from the twelfth century. It is located in the commune of Saint-Viance, in Corrèze, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Its apse and choir, preserving intact Romanesque elements, have been listed as historical monuments since 1972. A northern side chapel, also from the 12th century, and an 18th century portal complete the architectural complex. Originally, the church was dedicated to Sainte-Souveraine (the Virgin Mary) under the Merovingians, before being rebuilt in the Middle Ages.

Limoges' enameled shawl, classified since 1891, is one of the jewels of the church. Made in the 13th century, it was commissioned by a member of the Lasteyrie family, whose weapons appear on one of the ecus. Stolen and then found, it was exhibited in the United States as a masterpiece of Limousin art. Restored in 1930 and 1983, it illustrates the know-how of the enamels of Limoges, alongside the chasses of Ambazac and Chamberet. The church, originally linked to lay lords, was given to Uzerche Abbey in the 11th century.

The relics of Saint-Viance, deposited in the building after his death, give the church a major historical and spiritual dimension. The historic northern capital and the Romanesque arrangements of the choir bear witness to its architectural importance. The church, owned by the commune, remains a symbol of the religious and artistic heritage of Limousin, marked by the stylistic evolutions of the twelfth, thirteenth and eighteenth centuries.

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