Abbey of Saint-Léger de Meymac

Initially, the monastery used a pre-existing church dedicated to Notre-Dame. However, by the mid-12th century, that original building was reconstructed. The monastic house was placed under the authority of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre d’Uzerche (Corrèze), which was responsible for appointing the priors of Meymac. This dependence lasted until 1147, although Uzerche retained certain rights until 1175, when Meymac gained full independence. The abbey was dedicated to Saint-Léger (Leodegar of Autun, † c. 678), and some relics of the saint, brought from the Abbey of Saint-Maixent (Deux-Sèvres), were venerated there.

Today, the monastic church -now serving as a parish church- is preserved, along with several structures from the Maurist period and other later reconstructions. The church is notable for the irregularities and changes in orientation in its floor plan. The oldest part is the entrance porch (11th century), structurally independent from the main body of the church, which was rebuilt in the 12th century and later modified. A remarkable collection of capitals is preserved, along with a notable Romanesque image of a Black Madonna.