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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Valérie de Pontcharraud came into being in the 14th century, when the Viscounts of Aubusson gave in 1179 the land of Pontcharral to the monastery of Blessac. A single nave chapel of three spans was then built, later becoming an annex of the Abbey of Chambon from 1564 until the Revolution. This place of worship, originally branch of Saint-Georges-Nigremont, preserves traces of its medieval past, like its bell tower-wall with three arches in the middle of the hangar, flanked by foothills, one of which houses a staircase.

In the 19th century, the church underwent major transformations between 1873 and 1875, under the direction of the entrepreneur Hippolyte Jallet. For an amount of 4,320 francs, two side chapels, a sacristy, a stand, and wall paintings were added. This work, combined with still visible remains of fortification, bears witness to both religious and defensive history. The building, owned by the commune, was finally inscribed in the Historical Monuments by decree of 15 April 1987, thus protecting its architectural and historical heritage.

Prior to the Revolution, the church was under the patronage of Chambon Abbey, reflecting the close links between the ecclesiastical power and local lords. Its current structure, combining Gothic elements and 19th century additions, illustrates the architectural and cultural evolutions of the region. The restorations of the 19th century, though late, allowed to preserve medieval features, such as the bell tower-wall, typical of limousine rural churches.

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