Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille - Saint Chaffre

Legends tell, that a small community of hermits lived here in the 6th century. A century later the group was led by (Saint) Eudes and after him by Eudes´ nephew (Saint) Theofrede. Theofrede got killed by the locals - and so he became a martyr named Saint Chaffre.

The monastery adopted the Benedictine rule in 817 and found support from Louis the Pious. In the following two centuries three churches were erected here. All collapsed due to the unstable ground. The current, former abbey church was built from 1074 on.

The monastery (and the relics of Saint Chaffre) were just a day´s walk from Le Puy, where the Via Podiensis started and many pilgrims gathered. It may well be, that the wealthiness of the abbey, was related to the pilgrim-business.

It has a polychrome facade with a unique frieze under the roof. There are some strange creatures here.This is the weirdest creatures of all. From the street level I actually had the impression, that here are two male persons...

But here is only one! The poor guy - is a medical wonder!

He must have been very provocative during prudish times. Starting near the elbow starts a "repair line" that crosses all over the sculpture. Obviously somebody had chiseled the gentleman´s lower part of his body off.