Memory of Stones
Notre Dame du Port Basilica in Clermont Ferrand
Lost in the middle of the historic district of Clermont, Notre-Dame du Port can only be found by those who really seek it. They then discover one of the jewels of Romanesque art in Auvergne.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
This church, erected as a basilica in 1881, is first and foremost a place of prayer and pilgrimage, registered since 1998 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO under the Ways of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle in France.
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At the start of the 20th century, the murals were completely stripped and cement tape joints were made. All the vaults are also cemented.
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In the 21st century, a new restoration took place: on the outside, the Volvic slabs on the roof were replaced by canal tiles and the stones were cleaned. Inside, we restore the color of the 18th century. with a yellow lime wash.
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Click on the image for more details
The church is built in blond stone, arkose. This sandstone comes from the quarries of Montpeyroux, about thirty kilometers from Clermont. For construction, we do not yet know how to extract or cut the stone of Volvic which will be used in the 13th century for the cathedral.
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Inside, the restorations took place from 2006 to 2008
In accordance with the Venice Charter, the oldest condition found on the site has been restored: a yellow whitewash reminiscent of the state of the church in the 18th century now covers the walls of the basilica. The capitals have been covered with a thin layer of unbleached lime and their backgrounds blackened to give relief. The paintings and murals were also cleaned and restored.
Since 2008, Notre-Dame du Port has abandoned its black layers of dirt and humidity to find its blond arkose coat and light colors, which highlight the curves of its arches and the relief of its exceptional capitals.
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The basilica has many stained glass windows in the choir, the nave and the western bay.
The stained glass windows of the choir made by Etienne THÉVENOT between 1837 and 1844
The stained glass windows in the nave made by Félix GAUDIN between 1885 and 1887
The stained glass window of the western bay produced by Jean MAURET in 1983
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