Church "Saint-Jacques le Majeur"

Romanesque church. Year of construction: 12th century. Listed as a historical monument in 1963.
Built in the Auvergne Romanesque style, the church is constructed of dressed stone and combines a central nave flanked by two side aisles. The nave has five bays, supported by square pillars with engaged columns on each face. The crossing is covered by a semi-dome on squinches, surmounted by a square bell tower. The apse is seven-sided, flanked by two semi-circular apses with semi-dome vaults. The western portal, dating from the 13th century, is surmounted by a niche that once held a wooden statue. The side walls are decorated with sculpted corbels, typical of Romanesque art. The church houses a remarkable collection of sculpted capitals, notably depicting doves, the archangel Gabriel, and the Virgin Mary. The capitals and piers feature historiated sculpture (figures, plant motifs), reflecting the influence of the Auvergne region. A memorial plaque commemorating the dead of the First World War (1914-1918) is kept in the church, in the north aisle. The church is a fine example of Romanesque art in the Haute-Auvergne region, with meticulously crafted decorative elements (corbels, capitals).

Visit and access: Self-guided tours are possible; keys can be obtained from the Lanobre town hall (04 71 40 31 75).