Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption (Avenas)

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Notre-Dame-d'Avenas, view from the south

The church Notre-Dame d'Avenas ( French Eglise Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption ) is in the center of Avenas in the Rhône department . It was originally the monastery church of the Avenas monastery . The church from the second half of the 12th century is classified as a monument historique .

Building description

Bell tower

The church is a simple Romanesque building with an open roof over the nave . The crossing is crowned by an openwork dome on arches, two short cross vaults and an apse with arcades adjoin. The pilasters are decorated with flowers and their capitals are shaped as leaves, a human head and an amphisbaena (two-headed snake).

The bell tower has two sound arcades with Romanesque capitals, next to it is a tower from 1906.

Interior

inside view

The oldest parts of the facility date from the 12th century, and there are also modern furnishings.

altar

The white limestone altar, 12th century

In the center of the choir is an altar carved from white limestone , which is considered one of the masterpieces of Romanesque sculpture. It consists of four blocks of limestone and was created between 1125 and 1130. The work is attributed to the "sculptor of Cluny III", the style shows similarities with that of the tympanum of Mâcon . Three sides of the altar bear scenes in high relief , four columns are at the corners.

  • On the front facing west, a glorified Christ is enthroned in a large mandorla , giving blessings, surrounded by his apostles. The figure of Christ places the feet flat on the stool in front of his throne. His perfectly regular face exudes a great mildness thanks to the subtle nuances of the relief. On both sides, the symbols of the four evangelists surround the mandorla like a square frame. The twelve are divided into groups of three on two levels; most of them hold books, Simon Peter can be recognized by his large key.
  • On the north side the life of the Virgin Mary is depicted in four scenes ( Annunciation , Birth of Christ , Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and Ascension ) .
  • On the south side the foundation of a church is depicted, it shows a king (possibly Louis VII ), who points to a model of the building in front of the collegiate chapter of St. Vincent de Mâcon ; this is made clear by the inscription below.
  • The reverse suggests that the altar contains relics.

literature

  • Joseph Aubonnet: Avenas, Saint-Mamert, Saint Jacques des Arrêts. 1976.

Web links

Commons : Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption (Avenas)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 46 ° 11 ′ 42 ″  N , 4 ° 36 ′ 16 ″  E