Église Saint-Barthélémy de Bénévent-l'Abbaye

Bénévent-l'Abbaye

In 1028, the Limousin canon Aubert founded, at the place called Secundelas a kilometre from the present village, a church intended to receive relics of Saint Bartholomew brought back from Benevento in Italy. These relics soon drew crowds of pilgrims, so much so that a monastery grew up and moved to the present site, giving the village its name: Bénévent-l'Abbaye. Rebuilt in a single campaign in the mid-12th century in the Limousin Romanesque style, the building preserves a recumbent effigy of a monk holding a book, perhaps a representation of the founder Aubert. In 1458, the priory was raised to the rank of abbey. Two Gothic chapels added in the 15th century were removed in 1862 during a restoration led by the architect Abadie, who gave the building back its original Romanesque appearance. A stage on one of the Creuse routes to Santiago de Compostela, the church of Saint-Barthélémy ranks among the oldest religious monuments in the Creuse and bears witness to the influence of the relics and pilgrimages that shaped, from the 11th century onwards, the economy and layout of this Limousin town.

Getting there : In the heart of the village of Bénévent-l'Abbaye, 24 km west of Guéret on the D940; church open to visitors, a stage on a Creuse route to Santiago de Compostela.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

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