The Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin

It is thought that it was with the revival brought about by the Benedictine monks at the end of the 11th century that construction of thepresent-day church began. Vestiges of this period are few and far between, the collegiate church having suffered the vicissitudes of time. What remains of the Romanesque edifice are the cross-vaulted side aisles and the chevet with its ambulatory and radiating chapels vaulted in cul-de-fours. The latter, unique in Lozère, is reminiscent of the great pilgrimage churches of the “Auvergnat” style. In the 15th century, the nave’s Romanesque vaulting was replaced by Gothic-style rib vaults. At the same time, rib-vaulted square chapels were inserted between the Romanesque radiating chapels. In 1670, the first two bays of the building, topped by a Romanesque bell tower, collapsed. They were never rebuilt, and a somewhat austere facade was erected to close off the collegiate church once again. A square bell tower was subsequently rebuilt above the south aisle. The latter was recently refurbished in 2023. The Saint-Martin collegiate church has passed through the centuries with flying colors, and its many transformations have in no way detracted from the building’s charm. On the contrary, they magnify and sublimate it, bringing to light the eras it has lived through, and thereby revealing its history and secrets…