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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Caprais de Prunières, located in the Lozère department in the Occitanie region, is a religious building of Romanesque origin built in the 12th century. It is characterized by a unique nave of four vaulted bays in a broken cradle, a pentagonal apse decorated with 13th century paintings depicting God the Father surrounded by the four Evangelists, and a bell tower with three arches, considered one of the oldest in the Margeride. The western facade, sober but elegant, incorporates a three-piece door flanked by blind arcades, typical of regional Romanesque art.

The church was initially a priory dependent on the abbey of the Chaise-Dieu, a link confirmed in 1145 by the bishop of Mende. It became a parish in 1314 and was partially rebuilt in the 13th century in a late Romanesque style, as evidenced by the start of the apse. In the 16th century, defensive elements were added, reflecting the troubles of the time. The building houses a 17th-century altarpiece and 18th-century painted decorations, illustrating its artistic evolution over the centuries.

Ranked a historic monument on July 24, 1920, the church enjoyed a complete restoration. Its architecture combines granite stone and red sandstone, while its bedside, highlighted by Lombardic bands, and its capitals carved from vegetable or geometrical motifs (balls) make it a remarkable example of the Lozerian Romanesque heritage. Furniture, including the altarpiece and wall paintings, are referenced in the Palissy base, attesting to its rich heritage.

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