DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, protection for historic monuments 2022 - 2nd quarter
3.LA GODIVELLE (Puy-de-Dôme) – Saint-Blaise Church
The church of Saint-Blaise de la Godivelle is an interesting and well-preserved example of a small rural Romanesque church, little modified over the centuries and preserving original and expressive sculpted elements.
- XIIe, XVe, XIXe centuries -
Historic Monuments Registration July 20, 2022 Saint-Blaise Church in La Godivelle
© Claire Raflin, DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Located on a very isolated territory, with difficult climatic conditions, sparsely populated and exclusively agricultural, this small rural granite and basalt church presents a very simple architecture but faithful to the Auvergne Romanesque model. It seems to have been built at the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13the century. Originally, it was only made up of a semicircular choir and a nave with a barrel vaulted bay. Late XIIIe or early XIVe century, the nave was enlarged by a span and the high parts of the first span were rebuilt. In the 15th century, a Gothic portal was built in the south façade and a chapel was added at the same time against the first northern bay of the nave.
In XIXe century, a sacristy is adjoined to the north of the chevet (before 1838), a square bell tower is built (or rebuilt) to the west (in 1819) and two chapels are added or enlarged on both sides of the nave, thus serving as a transept (after 1846). The frames and covers were redone in 1901 by the architect Déchambre, from Condat (Cantal). The slates were then replaced by slates.
Outside, the semi-circular bedside, supported by committed columns, presents original sculpted modillions, with a rough but expressive workmanship. They would symbolize deadly sins. The seventh, greed, is illustrated below by a carved stone with animal head (fox?) holding a circular cheese.
It is probable that other carved modillions existed on the north side today masked by the sacristy. Inside, the apse of the choir vaulted in a cul-de-four falls on an arcature, according to a common arrangement in Auvergne Romanesque architecture. The capitals are sculpted with motifs in the rough (mermaid bifid, snake ...). The nave is vaulted in a barrel, comprising two bays separated by doubleaux.
Its capitals are sculpted with rather enigmatic motifs (characters separated by fish, raising their hands, brandishing a fish or holding hands on their chests). In addition to a medieval stoup, the church has a baroque altarpiece (XVIIe /XVIIIe century, classified as an object of historical monuments) housing the statue of Notre-Dame des Lacs de la Godivelle, traditionally carried in procession to the lake of En haut. The pulpit and the confessionals with fine carved decoration have also been preserved.