Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The St. Lawrence church of Auzon, classified as a Historical Monument in 1906, is an ancient Benedictine collegiate of Romanesque architecture, built in the 12th century under the influence of auvergnat Romanesque art. It is distinguished by its simple plane of four spans without sideways, its vaulted choir in cul-de-four and its three apsidioles. The southern porch, typical of the region (called "ganivelle"), is decorated with sculptures depicting animals, currencies and scenes of Christ's life, such as the Annunciation and the Nativity. The Byzantine door, equipped with 11th or 12th century fittings partially covered with leather, and the inscriptions engraved on its steps testify to its historical importance.

In the 15th century, the building was enlarged by three chapels to the north, and an organ was offered by the Montmorin-Saint-Hérent family. The wall paintings of the 14th and 16th centuries, in the superimposed Gothic chapels, combine complex themes such as the Last Judgment, the Triomphe of the Cross and the Passion of Christ. The superior chapel, dedicated to Saint Michael, evokes the castal link of the church, built on a rocky excrescence overlooking the square. The materials used (arkosis, coal sandstone, leptinite) and remarkable acoustics recall neighbouring buildings such as the Church of Mailhat.

Outside the college was restored between 2015 and 2016. Its bell tower, raised on the third span, also dates from the twelfth century. The ensemble illustrates the architectural and artistic evolution of the region, between Romanesque heritage and Gothic additions, while preserving unique elements such as carved patterns of the cornice or the ancient fences of the door.

External links