Polignac, the church

The chorus is X and XIèmes centuries, the nave of XIIème century, except the last span, which was added to last century. Its dimensions: 30m length, 14m broad and 12m top (under vault) make of it a remarkable building for a small agglomeration.

The church (except the last span inside) is built out of cut, ochre or black stone, coming from volcanic castings of the Denise. This stone lending itself badly to the fine sculpture, was replaced for the majority of the capitals by the white stone of the careers of Blavozy.

The building comprises a central nave, two side aisles and an incomplete transept. The massive pillars, in the shape of cross, are decorated in the angles, by beautiful posts in spindle, which also decorate the circumference of the church.

In north, one can observe remainders of loopholes and machicolation, the church belonged to the second strengthened enclosure. To the south, the Gothic porch was added between XIIIème and XIVème centuries. It is a kind of stone platform, which shelters a Gothic door opening in the right side aisle. The bell-tower, rebuilt recently found its primitive pace (represented on the old prints).
The whole of the building (old of almost a millenium, in its oldest parts), testifies to the quiet insurance of the things which last…

Chorus: The four pillars support a cupola with cut sides which passes from the square to the octagone and the round-off. This form is frequent in Auvergne.
The frescos of the apse are remarkable. Oldest (destroyed partly) is of XIIème century, it represents the last judgement. It was modified in XIVème century, in its medium, by a news, called “plank of the angels”. Of course, Saint Michel is present, in his continuity with Apollon.

The primitive furnace bridge was a simple stone table carried by columns. No gate vault. Holy the éspèces was thus locked up in a wall cupboard dug in the thickness of the wall on the right of the furnace bridge. It is always and contains the statue of Holy Anne there carrying Marie who carries itself the child. This statue dates from the XII ème century and kept its polychromy. Anne, Anna, Diane, Innana, the goddess of the origins always has her place in this crowned place, with the foot of the rock of Polignac where its parèdre Apollon gives to the pythea the capacities of oracle.

The surprise is behind the church, frontage western: a beautiful head of isis cut in the stone! Unless it is not Diane, who answers Apollon by the well of oracle in the enclosure of the castle…

Go, some orbs just for the pleasure…