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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Pierre de Larnas church, located in the Ardèche department, is a 11th and 12th century Romanesque building, classified as a Historical Monument since 1907. It is distinguished by its architectural quality, with pure lines and carefully cut materials. Dedicated to Saint Peter, it was allegedly built by the Benedictine monks of Cruas, who were responsible for the religious administration of the plateau. Traces of a first Carolingian building, such as carved stones, as well as the mention of a parish priest as early as 950, suggest an older origin. The signature of architect Stefanus, dated the ninth century, is engraved inside, reinforcing this hypothesis.

During the Wars of Religion, the church may have suffered damage, as evidenced by the partial reconstruction of an irregular stone apse. After this troubled period, the parish, deprived of a pastor, was restored in 1598 with the appointment of Abbé Lescombes, who served there for 61 years. In the 19th century, demolition projects to rebuild the church closer to the presbytery were envisaged, but abandoned thanks to the intervention of a seminarian, Canaud, attached to this heritage. In 1907, Mayor Robert de Lisleroy obtained his ranking, placing her under state protection.

The architecture of the church reveals a cruciform plan with a marked transept and three low apses. The crossover of the transept, surmounted by a dome on tubes, is a remarkable element, inspired by that of Bourg-Saint-Andéol. The nave, vaulted in a cradle, consists of two spans separated by an arc falling on pilasters. Inside, signatures of stone masons, such as those of Regnerus, Stefanus and Sianoa, are engraved on a pillar, attesting to their participation in the construction. The sculpted, sober decor includes geometric patterns and a re-used Carolingian interlacing knot.

The roof, originally in limestone lauzes, was replaced in the 19th century by round tiles due to its state of degradation, before being restored to volcanic lauzes in 1936, then to limestone lauzes in 2007. The west facade, rebuilt with Romanesque elements, could correspond to a missing span, as suggested by waiting stones and traces of tearing. The cemetery, formerly located around the church, housed ancient tombs until 1855, when it was moved.

Saint Peter's Church is also marked by local anecdotes, such as the legend of "blood of stone", deformation of the name "stone greenhouse" due to a cadastral error. Despite the vicissitudes of history, it remains a valuable testimony of Romanesque art in Vivarais, protected and valued for future generations.

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