Saint-Nectaire, Puy-de-Dôme
Encyclopedia
Saint-Nectaire is a commune
in the Puy-de-Dôme
department in Auvergne
in central France
. the village is in two sections Saint-Nectaire le Haut and Saint-Nectaire
that belonged to the count of Auvergne, who ceded it at a date between 1146 am d 1178 to the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu
for the foundation of a priory
and sepulcher dedicated to Saint Nectarius of Auvergne (Saint Nectaire), associated with the site as the first evangelist
of the region. The legenda of Saint Nectarius record the site of a temple of Apollo
on Mont Cornadore, converted into the basilica, of which the oldest structures still standing are of the eleventh century. In the basilica are a characteristically Auvergnat Virgin and Child of the second half of the twelfth century. The site's thermal springs, which would account for a healing shrine of Apollo, were extensively developed in the 19th century into a spa
facility. In a cave in the mountain are hydrothermal stalagmites.
The château-fort, whose ruins survive near the church, gave its name to a feudal house holding distinguished rank in the 13th century but extinct in the 18th. The eldest branch of this family held the marquisate of La Ferté
, and produced a heroine of the religious wars
of the 16th century, Madeleine de St Nectaire, who married Guy de St Exupery, seigneur de Miremont, in 1548, and fought successfully at the head of the Protestants in her territory against the troops of the League
. To the same house belonged the branches of the marquises of Chateauneuf, the seigneurs of Brinon-sur-Sauldre and St Victour, and the seigneurs of Clavelier and Fontenilles, all of which are now extinct.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme is a department in the centre of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme.Inhabitants were called Puydedomois until December 2005...
department in Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
in central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. the village is in two sections Saint-Nectaire le Haut and Saint-Nectaire
History
Saint-Nectaire (corrupted into Sennecterre and Senneterre) was the name of an estate in AuvergneAuvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
that belonged to the count of Auvergne, who ceded it at a date between 1146 am d 1178 to the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu
La Chaise-Dieu
La Chaise-Dieu is commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.-Geography:La Chaise-Dieu occupies a 1082 m butte which dominates a plain between the mounts of Livradois and Velay...
for the foundation of a priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
and sepulcher dedicated to Saint Nectarius of Auvergne (Saint Nectaire), associated with the site as the first evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
of the region. The legenda of Saint Nectarius record the site of a temple of Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
on Mont Cornadore, converted into the basilica, of which the oldest structures still standing are of the eleventh century. In the basilica are a characteristically Auvergnat Virgin and Child of the second half of the twelfth century. The site's thermal springs, which would account for a healing shrine of Apollo, were extensively developed in the 19th century into a spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
facility. In a cave in the mountain are hydrothermal stalagmites.
The château-fort, whose ruins survive near the church, gave its name to a feudal house holding distinguished rank in the 13th century but extinct in the 18th. The eldest branch of this family held the marquisate of La Ferté
La Ferté
La Ferté is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* La Ferté, in the Jura département* La Ferté-Alais, in the Essonne département* La Ferté-Beauharnais, in the Loir-et-Cher département...
, and produced a heroine of the religious wars
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
of the 16th century, Madeleine de St Nectaire, who married Guy de St Exupery, seigneur de Miremont, in 1548, and fought successfully at the head of the Protestants in her territory against the troops of the League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
. To the same house belonged the branches of the marquises of Chateauneuf, the seigneurs of Brinon-sur-Sauldre and St Victour, and the seigneurs of Clavelier and Fontenilles, all of which are now extinct.