The Charolais-Brionnais area has numerous romanesque churches, imposing or more modest, with beautiful architecture and blending perfectly into their environment.
You can download the brochure "Les Chemins du Roman" in the section "Practical information" --> "Brochures"
You are a group and you want to organise a guided visit of these churches ? Contact the "Centre d'Études des Patrimoines"
The octogonal, three-storied tower, pierced by gemeled openings and with extensive sculptural decoration, is perfectly proportioned.
Guided tours for groups by appointment. Phone : 03 85 25 30 14 (Mr. BEAUCHAMP)
The early stage of Romanesque Art of the end of the 6th century/beginning of the 7th century.
100th site classified by Clunisian site
One of the purest Romanesque Churches of the Brionnais, with a pretty collection of sculpted capitals, the approaches to the church have been elegantly restored.
Masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture, the church's portal represents of the ascent of the Christ. The restored interior has pretty gothic paintings and a beautiful funeral chapel of the XVIII century.
Of the Church constructed in 1150, only the steeple remains, with elegant proportions and a wonderful tympanum. The rest is of a later date.
With its open, double-storied, octagonal tower, the church is composed of a pretty nave of 4 bays and a corbelled gallery. It has a central apse and two apsidioles. Dating from the end of the XII century, this church is one of the last Romanesque churches built in the Brionnais.
Guided visits available for groups. Phone : "Les Vieilles Pierres" Association : 03 85 25 13 57
The Chapel of Saint-Martin-la-Vallée also deserves a visit. This old parish church became a chapel and still has some XII century murals as well as gothic style murals. It has an unusual steeple. The Chapel is about 1,5 km from the village centre.
This Church was constructed in sandstone at the end of the 6th century. At the South porch, we can see a carving of a lamb holding the cross.
The network of the Clunisian sites : the aim of the European Federation of Clunisian Sites is to promote the places in Europe which bear witness to the extraordinary influence of Cluny' Abbey (Southern Burgundy) from the 10th to the 18th century. An influence which was spiritual, artistic, economic, political and social. The monks of Cluny were instrumental in the development of hundreds of towns and cities. Each of these places holds of a piece of this Eorpean Cultural heritage.
sitesclunisiens.org et clunypedia.org
On our territory, the members of the clunisians sites are : Baugy, Iguerande, Marcigny, Semur en Brionnais et Varenne l'Arconce.
Église de Saint-Bonnet-de-Cray
Église de Saint-Martin-du-Lac
Église de Fleury la Montagne
Église de Marcigny
Église de Melay
Église d'Oyé
Église de Briant
Founded in 1055 by Geoffroy II of Semur and his brother Hugues, Abbot of Cluny, the monastery of Marcigny was the First Clunisian priory to accept women, who but only those of noble rank. It was occupied by nuns but administrated by monks who were in charge of the management and the spiritual well-being of the nuns. The monk's quarters had a chapel (Now the Church of Saint-Nicolas), a dormitory and communal spaces. The women's quarters included a chapel and a cloister.
The Revolution (1789-99) did not spare these places and only a few remains survived, for example, an entrance which led to the infirmary and some traces of other buildings.
The building you see today on this site is called the Hotel de la Prieure.
