Collegiate church of Saint Léonard de Noblat - Vault and stained glass windows from the Atelier du vitrail, heirs of master glassmaker Francis Chigot
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It was around the veneration of its patron saint that the medieval town of Saint-Léonard de Noblat developed. As the patron saint of prisoners, pregnant women and all forms of deliverance, Leonard was (and still is!) a very popular saint in Europe, having been the destination of pilgrimages since the Middle Ages.
Collégiale de Saint Léonard de Noblat classée à l'Unesco
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Dedicated to Saint Leonard, the collegiate church houses his tomb, the bolt and the reliquary chasubles. The architecture of the church is specifically designed to allow pilgrims to walk around it as they come to pray and seek the intercession of the patron saint of prisoners. People pray to Saint Leonard for deliverance, whether from earthly prisons or from the torments of illness or infertility.
Collégiale de Saint Léonard de Noblat
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A stop on the route to Vézelay, the collegiate church of Saint Léonard de Noblat has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the title ‘The Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France’ since 1998. This majestic Romanesque building owes its recognition to the widespread devotion to Saint Leonard, the great renown of its pilgrimage since the Middle Ages, and its inclusion in the ‘Book of Saint James’.
Built in the 11th and 12th centuries and subsequently altered up until the 19th century, this Romanesque collegiate church is notable for its bell-tower porch, its gable windows, its rotunda serving as a baptistery, and its Limousin-style portal. Inside, you will find a vaulted nave, a lantern tower, a vast choir with an ambulatory lit by seven radiating chapels, as well as the tomb of Saint Leonard.
Situated in the heart of the medieval town, the collegiate church is open every day. Step through the imposing gateway to enter the building and wander freely amongst the sightseers and pilgrims.
Tradition has it that women longing for a child should touch the bolt so that their wish may be granted and they may experience the joys of motherhood. Even today, one can still see little booties placed on Saint Leonard’s tomb as a token of gratitude.
Push open the small gate to reach the altar. There is a small doorway through which you can pass underneath. By touching the vaulted ceiling, worshippers can get as close as possible to the saint’s relics.
During your visit, you will find models of other churches in France and across Europe, all of which are also dedicated to the popular Saint Leonard, on display in the collegiate church.
This is a type of church so named because it was home to canons organised into a ‘college’. The church of Saint Léonard de Noblat is unique in that it is at once a reliquary church, a parish church and a collegiate church.
The Ostensions are a religious and popular festival held every seven years, during which the relics of Saint Leonard and the saints of the ‘ Limousin ’ are displayed. They are included on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
The Collegiate Church of Saint Léonard de Noblat occasionally hosts concerts within its walls. Gospel, Christmas carols, classical music, Corsican polyphonic singing… stay tuned and enjoy the wonderful acoustics of this enchanting venue!
As evidence of the popularity of the cult of Saint Leonard, there are nearly 1,200 places across 15 European countries that claim him as their patron saint.
