Ennezat - Collégiale Saint-Victor et Sainte-Couronne

The monumental Collégiale Saint-Victor et Sainte-Couronne (now parish church) consists out of three architectural parts. The old romanesque church with a transept and a crossing tower, a narthex added to the left and a large gothic part added to the right.

Probably around 1060/1070 a small monastery was founded here, funded by William IV, Duke of Aquitaine (aka Fièrebrace - The iron arm). The building of the romanesque church started immediately and probably it took less than 10 years to finish it. This church is counted rightly to the crown jewels of the romanesque architecture in the Auvergne by Bernard Craplet ("Auverne roman"). What makes it so interesting is, that this is the oldest of the crown jewels, as this structure is about 50 years older than Notre-Dame-du-Port, Orcival and Issoire. But it nevertheless shows already all the specific touch, the romanesque style ahs in the Auvergne.

The romanesque church, between the two addons, is remarkbale small. The nave is only about 18 meters in length - and only 3,74 meters wide.

Actually Bernard Craplet places this small church like a stepping stone between the (lost) romanesque cathedral of Étienne II/Pope Stephen II in Clermont and Notre-Dame-du-Port.

I have the impression he is totally right. Though the romanesque church is really small and not complete, this is one of the most important structures in the Auvergne.