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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Georges church of Ydes-Bourg, located 3 km southeast of Ydes in the Cantal, is an emblematic example of the auvergnat Romanesque style. Built in the 12th century, it was first a Templar Commandory before moving to the Hospitals of St John of Jerusalem in 1313, after the dissolution of the Order of the Temple. Its classification among historical monuments in 1862 underscores its heritage importance, particularly for its stone-cut architecture and its deep porch decorated with symbolic sculptures.

The western porch, vaulted in a broken cradle, has similarities with other churches in Haute-Auvergne such as Sauvat or Salers. It is decorated with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures, while its tympanum has a "hurling head" (locally called "Salguebru"), apotropaic motif intended to keep demons away. The side walls contain bas-reliefs representing the Annunciation and the Prophet Habacuc, testifying to a rich iconographic program.

The bedside, of great regularity, consists of a semicircular apse rhythmized by committed columns. The apsidial windows, framed with geometric capital columns, are surmounted by oric arches decorated with twisted cords. Inside, the vaulted nave in cradle and the cul-de-four apse reveal an apparent stone masonry, while models carved with expressive faces crown the building.

The history of the church is marked by major transformations: in the 15th century, two side chapels were added, and the vault of the nave collapsed in 1680. In the 17th century, the adjacent command office, sold as a national property in 1794-1795, included agricultural buildings and a seigneurial house. Between 1888 and 1899, an ambitious restoration, led by architects Anatole de Baudot and Louis Bonnay, gave the building its present appearance, including the restoration of the choir and porch.

The materials used reflect the local geological diversity: the choir is built in volcanic tuff, while the nave blends tuff, granite and sandstone. Covers, in slate or stone slabs, vary according to the building. The church, still in cult activity, illustrates the legacy of religious military orders in Auvergne and their role in medieval sacred architecture.

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