Mozac - Saint-Pierre et Saint-Caprais

This once was the abbey church of Mozac Abbey, one of the oldest monasteries in the Auvergne. Dating back into Merovingian times, a legend tells that it was founded by Calminius (later Saint Calmin). He must have been pretty important and well off, as his name is connected to the foundations of three abbeys. He introduced the benedictian rules to the area, and brought (from Rome)a relic of Saint Peter and (from Agen) a relic of Saint Caprasius to Mozac. He got buried in the crypt of this church together with his wife Saint Namadie. Within the 9th century relics of Saint Austremonius, the first bishop of Clermont were transferred to Mozac, so already before Santiago de Compostella was on the map, this was a place of pilgrimage.

In 1095 Mozac abbey got affiliated to Cluny, but was important enough, to have Hugue of Semur, nephew of Hugue of Cluny here as abbot. He was followed by Eustachius, brother of Petrus Venerabilis.

Three churches could be found by archeologists:
Mozac 1 from the 7th century
Mozac 2 built within the 9th century and
Mozac 3, a great church that was built within the first half of the 12th century.

Of this church today only ruins can be seen, as it got destroyed by a number earthquakes between 1437 and 1490. Apses, choir, ambulatory, radial chapels, transept and clerestorys were beyond repair, when the early reconstruction started - in gothic style.

Most pillars of the nave kept upright and most of the illustrious capitals are still "in situ", on that place, where they always had been.

Saint-Pierre et Saint-Caprais seen from south. Here was the cloister before. This got together with other buildings of the monastery sold for demolition after the Revolution. The last monks left the abbey in 1790. Since then this is a parish church.