Saint-Chaffre Abbey Church

In Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, in the Haute-Loire, the abbey church of Saint-Chaffre stands out with its polychrome Romanesque façade. Building work began in the late 11th century, and it is the stone that provides the decoration: black and red volcanic scoria, sandstone and orange rock, laid as mosaic. The choir, which collapsed and was rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 15th century, stands in contrast to the rest. Inside, the organ of 1518 is among the oldest preserved in Europe. As you leave, look up at the carved frieze that runs under the cornice of the façade. Listed as a historic monument since 1840.