Thuret - Saint-Bénilde

The former church of a priory, built from local limestone 1150/1170, got remodelled quite often over the centuries. This was done not only by architects, but as well by clerics. The church was dedicated to St. Genesius first, then to St. Limin, followed by Saint-Martin. Within the 19th century the dedication changed to Saint-Bonnet and just some decades ago to Saint-Bénilde, a saint born in Thuret in 1805.

Seen from the east. There are transepts and three apses, a view common in the Auvergne. Aymon Gilbert Mallay, the architect of the diocese, "over" renovated and restaurated the church in 1864. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") still laments this neo-romanesque impact. Here to be seen is the black part of the bell-tower, that was added within the 19th century.

It is a nice church actually, with very interesting details, but the title "Le Vezelay de la Limagne", that I found printed in a local leaflet, is pretty ambitions. Well, way too ambitious.