Germigny-des-Prés church

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The church of Germigny-des-Prés (also oratory of Germigny des Pres or Theodulf's Chapel ) is a pre-Romanesque , Carolingian church building in what is now the French community of Germigny-des-Prés in the Loiret ( Center-Val de Loire region ). It was completed in 806 and is one of the oldest preserved church buildings in France. The church and the former abbey were founded by Theodulf of Orléans . The architecture was based on the Aachen Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne .

Germigny-des-Prés church

Theodulf founded

The Goth Theodulf of Orléans was a native of Spain, chancellor and “most educated advisor” to Charlemagne, bishop of Orleans and abbot of the important nearby abbey of Fleury . He built the church as his private house chapel ( oratory ) near his villa. The oratory was built between 803 and 806 and consecrated on January 3, 806.

architecture

Floor plan of the oratory

The abbey church of Germigny-des-Prés with the church was originally a central building . It was built on the plan of a Greek cross , with an apse to the west and east. The western apse gave way to a nave in the 15th century. In the eastern apse there is an important mosaic based on the Byzantine model.

The old central building consists of a middle square and cones on each side, i.e. round chapel extensions or niches, with the eastern choir cone being accompanied by side apses .

The form of this oratorio was chosen in clear, conscious reference to the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne in Aachen , but Armenian and Visigoth influences are also suspected.

A special component is the shaft-like central space formed by four pillars with a dome . This dome is supported by high walls, which are interrupted by three-part arcade windows . This entire tree motif is of great importance for the history of architecture. Such buildings are likely influenced by Spanish buildings, which in turn go back to Byzantine cross-domed churches .

The very cleverly constructed space staggering upwards over a level of pierced wall sections, which can be seen in the crossing , represents a fundamental innovation for the time - together with Aachen - namely a lantern tower . The building thus goes beyond the ancient Byzantine tradition in one decisive point.

mosaic

Apse with mosaic, drawing by Juste Lisch 1873

The mosaic in the apse also dates from around 806. It is the only surviving Carolingian mosaic north of the Alps, which makes it one of the oldest on French soil. The picture program, kept in the Byzantine style , is likely to go back to instructions from Theodulf himself. The ark of the covenant can be seen surrounded by two large and two small angels ( cherubim ) who - like the hand of God pointing down from the blue of the sky - point to the ark. A relationship with the miniature paintings of Charlemagne's court school cannot be overlooked in its design .

The translation of the Latin inscription below the mosaic reads something like: “Look and contemplate the holy oracle and the cherubim and the glow of the ark of the divine covenant. In this contemplation try to move the Lord of Thunder and remember Theodulf in your prayers. "

The mosaic was found by chance under the plaster in 1840 after children played with blue and gold tesserae and has been restored since then. The mosaics on the walls surrounding the altar were still preserved in the first half of the 20th century. They showed a representation of paradise.

15th to 19th century

Theodulf's villa was destroyed in the course of the Norman incursions - only the chapel remained. In the Middle Ages the church became a priory and later a parish of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire . In the 15th century, the floor plan was extended to include a long nave, which was lengthened during the restorations of the 19th century, a bell gable was added and its appearance was adapted to the Carolingian components.

It was not until the 19th century that the uniqueness of the church of Germigny-des-Prés was recognized and attempts were made to restore it to its original state. Although the building fabric has been heavily renewed since then, the architectural idea has essentially been regained. In 1840 the church was declared a monument historique and between 1867 and 1887 under the direction of Juste Lisch - albeit imprecisely - it was restored.

  • Crossing and eastern apse

  • The mosaic in the apse

  • Portal and nave (15th century)

  • Nave (inside)

  • Baptismal font

literature

  • Jean Hubert, Jean Porcher, Wolfgang Fritz Volbach : The art of the Carolingians: from Charlemagne to the end of the 9th century. Beck, Munich 1969.
  • Rolf Toman (ed.): The art of the Romanesque. Architecture, sculpture, painting. Könemann, Cologne 1996, ISBN 3-89508-213-9 , p. 384.
  • Wilfried Hansmann : The Loire Valley. Castles, churches and cities in the «Garden of France» . 2nd Edition. DuMont, Cologne 2000, ISBN 3-7701-3555-5 , pp. 49-52 (online) .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Jean Hubert, Jean Porcher, W. Fritz Volbach: The art of the Carolingians: from Charlemagne to the end of the 9th century. Beck, Munich 1969, p. 11ff.
  2. ^ Michael Imhof , Christoph Winterer : Charlemagne. Life and impact, art and architecture. Imhof, Petersberg 2013, ISBN 978-3-932526-61-9 , p. 7.
  3. ^ A b Jean Hubert, Jean Porcher, W. Fritz Volbach: The art of the Carolingians: from Charlemagne to the end of the 9th century. Beck, Munich 1969, p. 375.

Web links

Commons : Church of Germigny-des-Prés  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 47 ° 50 ′ 46.3 ″  N , 2 ° 16 ′ 0.3 ″  E