Saint-Germain-Lembron

Small capital of the Lembron area, the village of Saint-Germain-Lembron expanded rapidly at the Gallo-Roman period, at the intersection of old roads, at the edge of the Couze of Ardes and at the heart of the agricultural plains. From the 10th century, the canons of the powerful chapter of Brioude head the territory and built a fortified castle, nowadays destroyed. The village itself was protected by a fortified wall, and its high street continues the route. Symbol of power and prosperity, Saint-Germain is, in the Middle Ages, one of the “13 good cities of Auvergne”. The houses with “bicorne” are thus called because a Genoese tiling with several lines of tiles sits on the frontage, giving form to a curve. As much decorative as functional, this device allowed an overhand of the roof that protected the frontage from the bad weather. The fountains on Saint-Jean’s and Jardiniers’ places have been constructed in 1843 in rock from Volvic. The church of Saint-Germain is a building made of arkoses. Moreover, it’s an interesting example of the Gothic art of the 17th century.