Église Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul

The priory church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul is at Souvigny, a small town in the Allier, in the Bourbonnais, and it has close links with the abbey of Cluny. Souvigny was one of the most important priories in the network of the great abbey of Cluny, and the church holds a special position in the history of that order.

Souvigny's importance began in the tenth century. The lords of Bourbon gave land to Cluny, and a priory was founded, which grew into a major religious centre. Two of the great abbots of Cluny, Mayeul and Odilon, died at Souvigny while visiting it, and their tombs made the church a place of pilgrimage. Pilgrims came to venerate the relics of the saints, and the priory became wealthy and influential. Later the church also became the burial place of the dukes of Bourbon, the powerful family that ruled the region and later produced kings of France, and the tombs of Charles I of Bourbon and his wife Agnès of Burgundy, carved in the fifteenth century, are among the finest of the period.

The church is the largest religious building in the Allier. Its architecture mixes Romanesque and later Gothic work, since the priory was rebuilt and extended over several centuries, with a long nave of flamboyant Gothic style rising above older Romanesque parts, and a cloister and monastic buildings next to it. The interior holds carved capitals, stained glass, chapels with tombs, and other works of art. The priory is also known for a twelfth-century illuminated Bible, a famous manuscript preserved in the town's library. Guided tours are the usual way to see the church, the chapels and the cloister, though some parts may also be opened for free visits in certain seasons.

Souvigny lies in a quiet, green part of central France, near the town of Moulins, with its own historic centre, and the region is known for its Romanesque churches and châteaux of the Bourbon family. Combine the visit with a drive through the Bourbonnais countryside.

The site suits history lovers and those interested in medieval monasticism. Check opening times and guided-tour schedules before you go, and confirm what is available for visitors.