Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Sainte-Marie de Chauriat church, located in Puy-de-Dôme in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, is an emblematic building of the auvergnat Romanesque style, marked by two major construction periods: the 12th century for its original structure, and the 18th century for subsequent modifications. Originally a parish church, it is marked by the architectural quality of its apse and its cul-de-four chapels, as well as its columns with intact capitals and vaults in perfect condition. The choir and dome of the transept, particularly well preserved, bear witness to its past importance.

The history of the building is closely related to its initial religious use and then its disaffection in the 18th century. Attached to the Benedictine priory of Sauxillanges, it served as a place of worship for the local prior before being transformed into a barn in 1793, after the Revolution. Its Latin cross plan includes a nave of three spans flanked by low-sides, a salient transept with chapeled crumbs, and an crypt. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1926, it illustrates the evolution of religious buildings in Auvergne, between medieval heritage and modern adaptations.

The modifications of the 18th century, though profound, did not alter the most remarkable Romanesque elements, such as carved capitals or the structure of the transept. The re-use of the church in a barn reflects the socio-political upheavals of the late eighteenth century, where many ecclesiastical goods were seized and converted. Today, its state of conservation and its heritage inscription make it a valuable witness to Auvergne religious architecture, between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

External links