Saint-Pierre de Marcilhac-sur-Célé abbey * All PYRENEES

The Saint-Pierre de Marcilhac-sur-Célé abbey is located in Marcilhac-sur-Célé in the Lot department, Occitania, France (Massif Central).

The name Marcilhac appears in 654 in the will of Saint Didier, bishop of Cahors, who made donations to the abbey of Saint-Amand, which he had founded and where he wished to be buried.

A cella was established by Benedictine monks from Moissac. Pepin, King of Aquitaine, took it under his protection in 845 or 848. In the 10th century, the abbey became independent. Saint-Pierre Abbey received gifts from Adhémar des Echelles, Viscount of Tulle, around 930, and Raymond II, Count of Rouergue, in 961.

Excavations carried out in 1968-1969 revealed the original plan of the abbey church’s chevet. Its similarity to that of Conques Abbey led to the conclusion that it was built in the middle of the 11th century. The archaic composition of the south portal suggests that it was built around 1100.

The capitals of the west portal are thought to have been made in the mid-eighteenth century. The architecture of the upper parts of the abbey church, with the pointed arches of the towers, would place them in the second quarter of the 11th century at the earliest. The style of the capitals in the chapter house dates them to the mid-11th century. The capitals of the deposited cloister date from the 11th century.

The former abbey church and the ruins of the cloister and adjoining buildings were listed as historic monuments on November 20, 1906, the buildings surrounding the church on May 31, 1939, and the south gate of the enclosure with the wall and houses adjoining it on January 13, 1965. The main altarpiece was restored by the Parrot restoration workshop in Vénès in 2010.