The church of Saint-Sébastien de Champdieu is first mentioned in 1212, when it already formed part of a priory dependent on the Benedictine abbey of Manglieu (Puy-de-Dôme). However, the foundation of the priory is believed to date from between the 9th and 10th centuries.
The relics of the young martyr Saint Domnin of Avrillé were venerated here; they arrived from Manglieu in the mid-12th century and may have contributed to the rebuilding of the church. During the last quarter of the 14th century, in response to the dangers posed by the Hundred Years’ War, the church and the priory were fortified, works that were completed and extended between the 15th and 16th centuries. Due to its decline, the priory was united in 1695 with the seminary of Saint-Irénée in Lyon.
With the Revolution, the site was sold and became private property. In 1808 the church resumed its liturgical functions, while the remaining buildings later passed into public ownership and were restored. The priory complex comprises the church and the conventual buildings situated to the north. Most of them are preserved, except for the structures that once stood to the east of the cloister.
South facade
The church has three naves and a porch with a bell tower; it includes a transept and three semicircular apses. Beneath the eastern end lies a crypt of the same dimensions. The interior contains a remarkable collection of capitals. Externally, the complex has a fortified appearance, marked by the machicolations and the defensive raising of the apses, carried out after the original construction. The priory buildings were more extensively transformed due to their adaptation as a residence after the Revolution.
Crypt
Crypt
Crypt
Crypt
Crypt
Cloister courtyard
West facade
Detail of Armorial Revel (1450-1460)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
19th century drawing
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Church floor plan
Congrès archéologique de France (1936)
- BRECHON, Franck; i altres (2011). Champdieu. L’Armorial de Guillaume Revel. Alpara
- COTTINEAU, Laurent-Henri (1936). Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés. Vol. 1. Mâcon: Protat
- DUFOUR, J.-E. (1946). Dictionnaire topographique du Forez et des paroisses du Lyonnais et du Beaujolais formant le département de la Loire. Mâcon: Protat
- SOULTRAlT, George de (1859). Notice archéologique sur l'ancien prieuré de Chandieu, en Forez. Revue du Lyonnais, núm. 18
- THIOLLIER, Félix (1889). Le Forez pittoresque et monumental. Lió: Waltener
- THIOLLIER, Noël; i altres (1936). Champdieu. Congrès archéologique de France, ss. 98. Société française d'archéologie
Champdieu is located north of Montbrison in the Loire department