Eglise Saint Martial

Overlooking the surrounding countryside on the edge of the town, this beautiful Romanesque-style church built in the 12th century has a very beautiful sculpted decoration on the facade.

The part of the building dedicated to Saint Martial dates from before 1110, but its façade and apse are from the second half of the 12th century. Already modified in the 13th century by the construction of a ribbed vault above the eastern bay of the nave, it was enlarged by two side chapels in the 15th century.

The façade, divided into three levels by bands, is decorated with sculptures of great finesse of execution. On the ground floor, between two blind arcades, the portal has four voussoirs. All the arches rest on small columns with capitals sculpted with small figures, animals and motifs. Above, five blind arcades, with the exception of the central one pierced by a small bay, rest on small columns with capitals decorated with palmettes. The gable was redone in the 19th century.

The nave is barrel-vaulted for three of its bays while the fourth is on ribbed vaults. There is no transept and it is the chapels created in the 15th century that overflow on the south and north sides. The bell tower rises above a dome on pendentives.

Individual visit services

• Unguided individual tours on request

Equipment

• Parking