Église Saint-Étienne de Never

Église Saint-Étienne de Nevers is a Romanesque church built on a Latin cross plan, with a nave divided into six sections, a wide transept, and three radiating chapels arranged around the apse. The building displays the solid construction and clear spatial organization typical of Romanesque design from this period.

The site was founded in 1063 when canons from Saint-Sylvestre arrived, followed by Benedictine monks who came under the authority of Cluny Abbey until 1097. These monastic communities shaped the spiritual development and physical growth of the place over the following centuries.

Two notable sculptures inside tell stories of faith and artistry: a 14th-century Virgin statue called Notre-Dame de la Colombe and a 15th-century marble figure of Saint John the Baptist. These pieces show how people expressed their devotion through stone and carving over the centuries.

The administrative office is located in the nearby Ducal Palace and can be reached at 03.86.68.46.00 for visitor information. Accessible design with elevators makes it easy for people with limited mobility to explore the building.

The interior features an unusual lighting system where the nave receives direct light through barrel-vaulted galleries that run along both sides. This clever design bathes the central space in natural light, a rare feature in Romanesque churches that visitors often overlook.