Collégiale Saint-Liphard

The Romanesque-Gothic collegiate church next to the Château

The Collégiale Saint-Liphard sits directly beside the château, sharing a small open square in front of both buildings. The lower walls are Romanesque, from the 11th century, and the upper church is Gothic; the bell tower has the unusual spear-shape that is a signature of the central Loire region. The dedication is to Saint Liphard, a 6th-century Frankish nobleman turned hermit who is buried in the crypt.

The interior is more impressive than the rather plain exterior suggests, with a long nave, deep transepts, and a high choir; on a sunny morning the light through the upper windows is particularly good. Entry is free and the church is usually open through the day.

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