From the 19th century onwards, Varen was the residence of the Dean of the Abbey of Aurillac, and a dozen monks lived in the monastery, of which the oldest castle (16th century) and a medieval building remain today. The current parish church was in fact the monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Peter. To the north lie the remains of the former parish of Saint-Serge, demolished in 1812. Built between 1050 and 1100, with decorated capitals typical of Romanesque art, the church has no traditional apse. The proportions are surprising for a small community, and reveal the existence of a pilgrimage around the body of Saint Sergius. Visits are free all year round, from 8am to 7pm.
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