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Origin and history

The church Saint-Roch de Neuilly-en-Dun, located in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region, is a Roman Catholic religious building built between 1140 and 1160. It probably succeeds a first place of worship as early as 1106. Its architecture is characterized by a carpented nave (recast in the 16th century), a choir with two barlong spans, and a semicircular sanctuary arched in quarter of a sphere. The eastern span of the choir is covered with a full curved cradle, while the western span, adjacent to the nave, supports a dome surmounted by a barlong bell tower on two levels: a base adorned with blind arches and a belfry pierced with six bays.

In 1767, a side chapel was added north of the choir, marking the only major modification of the building after the Middle Ages. The bell tower, rectangular and covered with slate, rests directly on the choir and presents four arcades per face, two of which are paired, equipped with abalone. The church houses four bells, three named (Edith, Regina, Marie) and one offered in 1841 by the neighbouring commune of Chaumont. Ranked a historical monument by decree of 10 February 1913, it remains communal property and retains remarkable architectural elements, such as its quarter-sphere vault or its six-open belfry.

Historical sources mention a nave structure re-established in the 16th century and a modern sacristy, but little information remains on liturgical uses or original interior arrangements. The building, however, illustrates the evolution of the Berry rural churches, combining a preserved Romanesque structure with late additions such as the 18th century chapel. Its ranking in 1913 underscores its heritage value, both for its architecture and for its partially documented campar furniture.

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