Unusual heritage

In the early 14th century, Lestards was under the patronage of the Commandery of Saint-Antoine de Viennois. The church has Romanesque supports and barrel vaults dating from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. The ribbed vault in the square of the transept dates from the 15th or 16th century. The west entrance facade is a wall-gabled bell tower, flanked by four buttresses at the corners. The building has a thatched roof (unique in France). Its interior decoration (sculpted capitals) has been enhanced by recent restoration work. Free admission, 8am to 7pm.
Group visits by prior arrangement all year round.

The church is under the patronage of St-Martial, the first bishop of Limoges. Two capitals in the masonry of the bell tower date from the Romanesque period. Badly damaged during the Hundred Years' War, the church was restored in the 15th century. Following the discovery of 17th-century wall paintings in the chancel, the large central window was reopened in 2008, changing the light aspect of the church.
The "Friends of the Church" association then had the brilliant idea of enlisting the help of Father Kim en Joong. This Korean-born Dominican, who creates stained-glass windows for spiritual centres all over the world, agreed to restore the building to its former glory.
The installation of the 11 stained glass windows symbolises the rebirth of the church. This space of meditation is sublimated by these stained glass windows from which emanate the power of the colours and the softness of the reflections.

The building, which was probably built in the 12th century and rebuilt at the end of the 14th century, remarkably never had any side chapels. It opens to the west through a beautiful frieze-chapel portal and has four bays covered with ogives, the last of which forms the choir with a semicircular chevet. The north wall is completely blind, as is often the case in small rural mountain churches.

It is notable for its harmoniously proportioned outline, the quality of its construction, the interest of its interior space, its meticulous sculpted decoration and its polychrome decoration. Essentially Romanesque, with thick walls, narrow openings on the south side, a semicircular apse, which is quite rare in Corrèze, and modillions of different profiles under the cornice. Restored in 2013, St Martin's has magnificent contemporary stained glass windows.

Established as a collegiate church at the very beginning of the 16th century by Geoffroy de Pompadour, bishop of Le Puy, the chapel of St Blaise is the parish church of the Pompadour region. It was in a very dilapidated state when a vast restoration project was undertaken. The interior decoration of the chapel was entrusted to the artist André Brasilier, who worked for almost 5 years to create a monumental mural covering more than 300 m², depicting various historical themes from the Bible. Thanks to its plastic and aesthetic qualities, this work contributes to the embellishment and enrichment of our heritage. Through its religious dimension, it bears witness to the enduring image of the traditions of the Christian world.

Only a few magical beings still seem to inhabit Clédat...
Abandoned in the 1960s, the village is now accessible via a forest track (accessible by car). Once a place of welcome for pilgrims and travellers, today the chapel, restored in the early 2000s, and a thatched cottage stand amidst the remains of the village.
In the vicinity of the village: the Ste Madeleine fountain, the Rocher viewpoint, the Sape de Maquisards, the Gallic Tumulus.