Saint-Nectaire - Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Cornadore

Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Cornadore erected on the Mont-Cornadore over the tomb of Saint Nectaire, a scholar of missionary Saint Austremonius of Clermont, the first bishop of the Auvergne.

Not much is known of the very early days here. 800 years after the death of Saint Nectaire, monks from the abbey La Chaise-Dieu settled and founding a priory here , after an estate was ceded to the abbey by William VII of Auvergne, called "The Young" (his uncle was "William the Old"). This must have taken place before 1169. Two Papal bulls deal with the properties of La Chaise-Dieu, the second one from 1178 lists Saint-Nectaire.

It is not known, who built this church, nor who funded the construction. Maybe William VII or the abbey La Chaise-Dieu or mysterious Ranulfo, whose name can be seen on one of the capitals?

The historians only agree, that this church was erected within the second half of the 12th century in a short period of time. Badly damaged during the French Revolution, the church got restaurated during the 19th century. This work is still disputed for not being "faithful" to the original, as some arcades (mainly outside) were added at that time.

Most of capitals in the nave are not bible-related, like the pillarheads on the choir.

This icon (man/rope/ape) is typical for the area. The French call this "singe cordé". I have learned, that within the Auvergne are about 20 (!) similar carvings.
Here is one of them. The ape and the "owner" depicted in the typical posture. The ape has like most of his animal-collegues these large wrinkels all around his neck. They may have been caused by the rope.