The Priory of Saint-Dier, or Saint-Didier, was founded in 1052 under the initiative of the Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu. That same year, Rencon, bishop of Clermont from 1030 to 1053, granted this church to his nephew Robert de Turlande, the founder and first abbot of La Chaise-Dieu. In its early days, it was one of the most important priories of the congregation, until in the 14th century it was incorporated into the mother house; nevertheless, it retained the title of priory until the Revolution.
The surviving church, built in the 11th century, has three naves and a choir consisting of a spacious presbytery surrounded by three radial apsidioles. The building was fortified and still preserves machicolations on its façade. Other conventual spaces and features also remain, although they have been integrated into adjoining constructions and were considerably altered over time, especially in the 15th century.
Old postcard, private collection
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1912). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 5. Bourges. Abbaye de Ligugé
- CRAPLET, Bernard (1972). Auvergne romane. La nuit des temps, 2. Zodiaque
- GAUSSIN, Pierre-Roger (1967). Huit siècles d’histoire : L’abbaye de la Chaisse-Dieu, 1043-1790. Almanach de Brioude
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1720). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 2. París: Typographia Regia
- TARDIEU, Ambroise (1877). Grand dictionnaire historique du département du Puy-de-Dôme. Moulins: Desrosiers
The priory belongs to the commune of Saint-Dier-d'Auvergne, located to the southeast of Clermont, in a site away from the main communication routes