The history of the church construction, by its many different campaigns of construction, is quite complexical. In some aspects romanesque, in others from the XVth century, the church keeps marks of many changes.

First campaign of construction (XIth century)

The first church given to Cluny by Aimard in about 915/920 is indeterminate.
However, it seems likely that after St Mayeul's death (994), St Odilon, his successor, made doing, as first church, a nave with a wooden roof structure, wich was quickly abandoned for a stone archway. The single nave was divided into three parts: a middle nave and two side aisles. During this first campaign of construction, a new frontage was built, including two towers surrounding by two sides a high chapel, located above the entrance of the church, dedicated to St Michel. A little bit later, a narthex (called "galilée"), was built in order to enable the reception of pilgrims, more and more numerous. In 1063, St Hughes, VI th abbot of Cluny, took advantage of the short stay of the pontifical legate Pierre Damien in Souvigny to ask him for the transfer of the body of Odilon. The church was consecrated at the occasion of this event.

Second campaign of construction (XIIth - XIIIth centuries)

Thus modified, the XI th century's church would get bigger during about a hundred years, showing the growing development of the priory. Two side aisles were added to the church, resulting in a five naves church. The chancel was moved eastward, allowing the addition of a second transept, following the plan of Cluny III, surrounded by a new ambulatory, flanked with five radiant chapels. At the end of the XIIth century and at the beginning of the XIII th century, the towers were crowned with two spires, and the big transept was coifed by a tower at the crossing.
In 1376, Louis II made doing his funerary chapel in the southern flank of the second transept.

Third campaign of construction (XVth century)

Dom Geoffroy Chollet, monk of the Mont Saint-Michel, nominated prior of Souvigny from 1424 to 1454, became attached to restore the romanesque church which was in a deplorable condition, along with the cloister. Deals for works were procured with the architects of the duke of Bourbon, Maignon, then Poncelet, for the renovation of the chancel, the central vault, the southern side aisle and the western facade. At the end of the XV th century, the dukes of Bourbon made doing a second funerary chapel; and a second transfer of the bodies of the holy abbots of Cluny in the reliquary furniture, rare example of this type of reliquary in France, occured. The gothic restoration is as we can see it today; giving us a remarkable religious edifice, of 89 meters long (97 yds), with 5 naves, 6 bays, is 28 meters wide (30 yds), and has a vault with finely wrought ribs, at 18 meter (59 ft) above the ground.

The renewal of the priory (XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries)

In addition to the classic priory, erected during the XVIIth century, and its imposing great door built during the next century, the church includes an outstanding sacristy, which was used as a meeting room during the French Revolution. Its architecture and baroque design are completely different from the rest of the edifice. The construction of a new sacristy (1773-1772) is decided during the last working wave that concerns clunisian monasteries shortly before the French Revolution.
Last addition to the church, the organ by François-Henri Clicquot, organ builder of the king Louis XVI, is erected on the western tribune. It contributes to the beauty of ceremonies in Souvigny's church. This organ, along with the one of the Cathedral of Poitiers, is one of the only two last non-altered organ of the great organ builder, himself son and grandson of organ builders.

The modern era

At the end of the XIX th century, under the aegis of Dom Mayeul Lamey, occured an attempt to put the monastery back on its feet, this lasted about ten years. These monks tried to conciliate science and faith. Expecting the expulsions of 1905, the community went to Aosta in Italy, were it passed away. In 1990, the brothers of the Community of St. John came to Souvigny in order to give back to the priory its first purpose.

The church was classified as a Monument historique in 1840, the different parts of the priory were also classified successively in 1926, 1939 and 1967.
In 1993, the former capital of Bourbonnais is elected as a "Grand site régional d'Auvergne", in order to benefit from a enhancement of its architectural fullness. In 2001, an archeological campaign began, along with the restoration works of the church naves.
In 2003, the edifice is indeed referred to a "Grand sanctuaire roman d'Auvergne", in order to begin its restoration.

The church can be visited all the year round. See the schedule of the museum.

Traduction : Louis Fongarnand

Façade gothique de l'église prieurale.