Attached to an old priory, the Church of St. Giles in Chamalières-sur-Loire, in the Loire Gorges, Auvergne, is a magnificent building and listed Historic Monument dating back to the end of the 11th century. Its remarkable acoustics make it a superb concert venue, particularly during the La Chaise-Dieu music festival.
Typical of the Auvergne Romanesque style, it has the particularity of having a cul-de-four apse that is higher and wider than the nave and side aisles combined. A large Romanesque font carved in the 12th century, ancient frescoes, a gilded wooden statue of St. Giles, patron saint of the village, the tomb of Bishop Étienne de Chalencon and the remains of the old cloister from the 12th century are revealed as the visit progresses.
