Église Saint-Cybard Travel Guide

Located in the heart of Angoulême on Place Mulac, the Église Saint-Cybard is a notable landmark with a rich history. The church's construction, completed in the latter half of the 19th century, was spearheaded by architect Edouard Warin. Bishop Monseigneur Cousseau sought to revive the cult of Saint Cybard, dedicating the church to him.Born as Eparchius in 493, Saint Cybard became a cleric in Périgueux before settling in Angoulême in 537. He dwelled in a cave above the Charente River, attracting followers with his holiness and reported miracles, such as saving a man from hanging, healing lepers, and restoring sight to the blind. He died in 581, and his tomb continued to be a site of miracles.The church's first stone was laid in 1866, with silver coins, medals of PIE IX, and a Latin inscription placed in its foundations. Originally intended as the center of a convent, the church was meant to facilitate religious funeral processions from the Saint-Cybard bridge to the Bardines cemetery. Consecrated in 1867, the church was built without its planned transept arms and side chapels, as evidenced by visible waiting stones. The eight sculpted capitals adorning the nave were sourced from the Angoumoisine chapel of Beaulieu. Today, Église Saint-Cybard stands as both a religious site and a testament to Angoulême's architectural and spiritual heritage.