The Saint-Nicolas church is located in the town of Nonette-Orsonnette, in the Puy-de-Dôme department, 10 km south of Issoire.
This is the church of the village of Nonette (which merged with that of Orsonnette, to the east, in 2016). Dominated by the remains of the castle of the Counts of Auvergne and the Duke of Berry, the building formerly served a priory dependent on the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu and also served as a parish church.
It presents Romanesque elements (12th century) but has been remodeled several times.
The church consists of a single nave ending in a flat apse. Two bays were added in the 14th century and side chapels were added in the 15th century.
The current bell tower, which is inspired by regional examples, dates from 1895.
The Romanesque style portal to the west is remarkable, and its decoration includes a number of sculpted elements: characters and animals on the arches of the archivolt, an angel surrounded by a lamb carrying a cross and a mermaid on the tympanum. The "south" portal dates from the 15th century, in Gothic style. Inside, the Romanesque part also retains very beautifully carved capitals.
Housed inside are works classified as objects such as a frieze, reliquary statues and a marble bust which would have been commissioned by Duke Jean de Berry (1340-1416).
The church is one of the must-see sites in this village, rightly labeled “Small town of character”. Information on +33 4 73 71 65 79.
