Guided tour

Sunday, 21 September 2025

Guided tour by Nathalie Da Silva, member of the Chamberaud Heritage Association, of the former commandery, during European Heritage Days.

Following the success two years ago of a talk given in the church during Heritage Days by Jean-Marie Allard, author of the book ‘Hospitaliers et templiers dans la Creuse’ (Hospitallers and Templars in Creuse), a guided tour was organised this year by Nathalie da Silva, a member of the Chamberaud Heritage Association.

Although one might have thought that few people would turn up due to the very cold, windy and rainy weather, the church was in fact almost full. People from our commune and elsewhere took the opportunity to learn more not only about the Knights Templar and the Hospitaliers, but also about the Church of Saint-Blaise itself. Mrs. Da Silva began by explaining the links between these three and the role our church has played over the centuries, before concluding with a tour of the outside.

She highlighted and explained to the audience a number of interesting features, such as the sundials that were placed upside down when they were reused on the outer wall, the buttresses of varying sizes and, of course, the famous keystone set into the sacristy wall. She also explained in more detail what the Commandery, of which the church was the chapel, might have looked like, along with the various buildings that made up the complex.

Overall, it was a very interesting talk and everyone present hoped it would be repeated, so that more people could discover the fascinating history embodied by this church, situated right in the heart of our village.