Mazet-Saint-Voy

Mazet-Saint-Voy is a common French, located in the department of the Haute-Loire and the area Auvergne.

Geography

History

According to the Guide Michelin, Mazet-Saint-Voy is the Protestant commune more of France. It is besides the only commune of France which does not have a Catholic church. Its history indeed is very marked by the religious fact. At the origin, the parish of Saint Voy de Bonnas is dedicated to saint Vosy, one of the first christianisateurs of this area and which one finds the trace with the Puy-en-Velay. In XVIe century one as of its priests called Bonnefoy converts with the reformed faith and leaves to Geneva or there remain approximately two years. It returns and évangélise the Plate. Bibles contresigned by Calvin are present in the Protestant families.

The wars of religion of the 16th century are disastrous for the Plate and almost all the Château X are destroyed (St Agrève, Montreal, Bonnas). Some time of calm is granted by the edict of Nantes, then the climate worsens and the temple of Voy Saint is destroyed two years before the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. At the 17th century, the dragonnades prevail again.

It will be necessary to await two years before the French revolution so that a feature gives rights to the Protestants again but it will be officially the French revolution which will give again a complete citizenship with the Protestants. And the laws of Napoleon i will permetront with the temples to be rebuilt, that of the " Mazet-Saint-Voy" built in the second part of the 19th century will be finished only about 1875. Meanwhile on an administrative level and while benefitting from a new road which passed to 2 kilometers on the hamlet of Mazet, the administrative buildings will be built on D500 off-setting in Mazet the administrative and commercial heart and then religious of the commune which becomes officially the commune of Mazet-Saint-Voy about 1885.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

Two Dolmen S in cash that of the Warp ends, which is officially on the commune of Vastres but also related to the history of Mazet-Saint-Voy. Menhir S often used for constructions and of the stones with Cup S. These vestiges, especially for the first two kinds, are the old signs of an occupation of the plate of High Lignon.

A church of the 11th century mentioned in 1021 in the cartulaire of Chamalières. The bell-tower added at the 13th century is decorated by figurines carved in the Granite. The gate and the pulpit are also of pretty objects carried out by the last priest of Saint-Voy at the 19th century. At the time of the Separation of the Church and the State in 1905 this church is not served any more and given up it will fall in ruin, when about 1970 an association of residents and sympathizers " Friends of Saint-Voy" decide to restore it. It will be inventoried with the list of the historic buildings in 1974.

Personalities related to the commune

Albert Camus, Charles Gide, Charles Rist, Pierre Grosclaude, Georges Canguilhem, Louis Count…

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