The Romanesque and Gothic church of Église St-Amable is perhaps the most significant religious building in Riom. Visit to find out more about the local saint who brought Riom into the spotlight as a pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages.
Get to know the story of Riom-born St. Amable before visiting. According to local lore, St. Amable was able to rid people of evil and demons using just his voice. It’s also said he had a mysterious power over both fire and snakes.
After the death of St. Amable in the 5th century, a shrine was built in Riom in his honor, and pilgrims would travel from other parts of France to offer their prayers. Come to the town today to see the church building, which is not the original but rather the result of several rebuilds. Most of it was constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries, resulting in a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural features.
Enter to view the choir and Gothic chapels, thought to date from between 1230 and 1235. The northern funerary chapels are more flamboyant in style, and therefore are thought to date back to the late 14th or early 15th century. The bell tower and transept are later additions, having been rebuilt in the mid 18th century.
Visit the church during one of the two annual feast days that celebrate St. Amable. One feast day takes place in mid June and the other in mid October. The summer feast is the bigger of the two. Attend in June and watch as a procession carrying the relics of the saint passes through the streets of Riom.
Find Église St-Amable in Riom’s old town. The church is open daily and is free to enter. Avoid visiting during Mass time as you may disturb worshippers. Even outside Mass time, remember the church is still an active site of worship, so be respectful of other visitors and try not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere.
