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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Radegonde, located in Cognat-Lyonne in the Allier, is a 12th century Romanesque building, classified as a historical monument since 1862. It is distinguished by its nave with transept, apse and two apsidioles, characteristic of auvergnat Romanesque art. Originally dedicated to Sainte-Marie (mentioned in 1107), she took the name of Sainte-Radegonde in 1411. Its bell tower, once topped by a stone arrow destroyed in the late eighteenth century, was restored after 1852.

The church is intimately linked to the wars of Religion in Bourbonnais. On January 6, 1588, a battle between Catholics and Protestants near the site resulted in the partial destruction of the village, castle and church by Protestants according to sources. The village, originally located around the building, was rebuilt a few hundred meters after this event. Sold as a national good in 1799, the church escaped the enlargements envisaged in the 19th century thanks to the opposition of the diocesan architect Esmonnot and the bishop, anxious to preserve its authenticity.

In the mid-19th century, limited arrangements were made: the addition of a funeral chapel, a sacristy, and the reconstruction of the bell tower's arrow. In 1866, a porch was added and the tympanum redone, bearing an engraved date. The building, owned by the commune, remains a major testimony of the religious and architectural history of the Allier, marked by successive conflicts and restorations.

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