Église Saint-Caradeuc

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

This building constructed at the foot of the ramparts of the vanished castle integrates itself into the midst of a fabric of old houses which it dominates by its mass. The 15th century choir preserves its elevation, its slender openings and a sexpartite vault surmounted by roof structure also of the 15th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the deterioration of the nave continued to worsen to the point that the building was abandoned at the beginning of the 19th century for reasons of safety. The reconstruction undertaken by architect Paillard between 1839 and 1842 is perfectly documented in the Archives Départementales de la Nièvre. It extends the Gothic choir and testifies to the renewal of interest in medieval architecture in the 19th century. The building is constructed on sloping ground, which explains its eventful architectural history; it is flanked by houses as well as by a large flight of steps on the North-West façade. It obeys a relatively irregular plan, which is found on the plans of the reconstruction undertaken by architect Paillard from 1839 to 1842: a central nave completed by two side aisles on which open chapels to the North-West and South-East. The nave is extended by a narrow choir, also supported by chapels. The South-West façade, opposite the choir, is dominated by a tall square bell tower in storeys. At the lower register, a large pointed arch portal gives access to the porch beneath the bell tower. The bell tower is flanked by buttresses. Moulded cornices delimit levels. On 3 sides, pointed arch openings with neo-Rayonnant tracery and louvres light the interior. The spire planned by architect Paillard on his drawings of 1839 and 1842 was not constructed. A balustrade crowns the whole. The North-West façade is very irregular: from left to right, elevation of the Gothic choir flanked by two chapels then a small house in Directoire style with a flat façade decorated with 4 slight pilasters and capitals rests on the flank of the church. At the top of a large flight of steps, a large Gothic portal with jambs, pinnacles, voussoirs, moulding and blind tympanum opens to the interior then to the right a chapel almost in line with the bell tower, in fine ashlar, presents in painted letters the republican motto. On the South-East side, the façade is also irregular but without setback. Buttresses and abutments are embedded in the roofing of the chapels which open onto the South-East aisle. The aisle presents an elevation considerably lower than that of the nave and choir. The internal volume presents the irregularities legible on the exterior: porch tower set apart; three naves forming 5 bays and rounded choir. The choir and nave are vaulted with ribs with a central pointed arch rib. On the first floor of the bell tower surmounted by a bell opening lodges a gallery which opens onto the central nave. It should be noted in a square-plan chapel, on the North-West side, pointed arches bearing down on fine sculptured corbels symbolising the 4 evangelists. The choir is very slender. It is lit by 3 tall lancets. The nave has the same elevation. Large pointed arches open onto the aisles and are separated by thick pilasters resting on tall plinths on which rest prismatic bases. The whole is particularly homogeneous. Only the difference in the size of the stones allows one to see the juxtaposition between the 1500 period and the work of the departmental architect Paillard between 1839 and 1842. The elevation of the central nave comprises a level of large arcades, a blind level and a level of high windows beneath the stilted arches. The fine roof structure of the choir with rafters bearing a collar tie is probably original. The reading of the building, exterior, interior and plans of Paillard, 1839-1842, makes it very easy to localise the parts of the 15th century and the 19th century extension.