Saint-Joseph Church

Built between 1885 and 1888 of white lava agglomerated with various volcanic materials, it is reminiscent of the Romanesque churches of the Auvergne region.

In 1941, the sculptor Henri Charlier, an artist from Burgundy, was in Ambert, welcomed by his wartime friend Henri Pourrat. Canon Coute, 4th parish priest(…)

Built between 1885 and 1888 of white lava agglomerated with various volcanic materials, it is reminiscent of the Romanesque churches of the Auvergne region.

In 1941, the sculptor Henri Charlier, an artist from Burgundy, was in Ambert, welcomed by his wartime friend Henri Pourrat. Canon Coute, 4th parish priest of La Bourboule, asked him to sculpt the capitals, which were still in their raw state. Charlier set to work, carving each of the 24 capitals (12 in the nave, 10 in the choir) using direct carving and scaffolding. His aim was to depict elements of the history of salvation.

Stone mosaics, alternating light tuff and dark lava in geometric motifs (chevrons, rosettes, checkerboards, etc.), adorn the chevet in the Auvergne Romanesque tradition. All the church’s capitals are carved with foliage, animals, figures, Christian symbols or biblical scenes ; the exterior tympanum above the entrance is also carved with a biblical scene (“Let the children come to me”). The stained glass windows in the ambulatory illustrate healing, the Covenant, the life and manifestations of the Virgin Mary.

Mass dates and times for the Sainte Bernadette des Dores parish are available from the tourist office.

Sunday mass at 11am.