Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Duratón)

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Duratón, Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

The Romanesque church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in the suburb of Duratón of the municipality of Sepúlveda is particularly known for its porch ( Spanish : portico or galería porticada ), which - next to that of Sotosalbos - is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Castile and both the south side enclosing the west side.

location

The suburb of Duratón with only about 30 inhabitants is located a little above the river of the same name about six kilometers (driving distance) east of the small town of Sepúlveda. The church is located - about 200 meters from the village - on the highest point in the area in the immediate vicinity of a Visigothic necropolis with stone box graves . Excavations are currently taking place in the vicinity of the church, earlier settlement remains are on a slope outside the present-day village. The village of Duraton is located on the banks of the Duraton River, so it is an ideal place for settlement.

history

The church and its porch were probably built at the same time towards the end of the 12th century; H. to consider in a time when you believe that - after the reconquest ( reconquista ) of Toledo and the recolonization ( repoblación ) the former border between the rivers Duero in the north and Tajo to the south - the area would remain in Christian hands. Nothing is known about the person or persons who commissioned the church; In any case, it is unlikely that the local villagers could afford such an expensive church.

architecture

lobby

South portal of the vestibule and console frieze

The most striking component of the church is its vestibule, which presents a total of ten asymmetrically placed arcade arches and a portal on the south side ; The arcades are missing on its west side, but there is also a portal accompanied by small window slits. The arcade arches rest on double columns with Romanesque capitals , some of which are still well preserved. Among the usual animal figures (birds) and hybrids ( centaurs , griffins etc.) there are only two biblical scenes - one is a “ birth of Christ ” in the stable of Bethlehem , the other is an “ adoration of the kings ”. The south portal of the vestibule is stepped down several times; the inner arch is jagged several times and is strongly reminiscent of Moorish arch forms - the post and west portal of the vestibule are also Romanesque, but do not show a multi-pass arch . Below the eaves runs a console frieze richly furnished with figures, depictions of animals as well as vegetable and abstract motifs ( rosettes , braided ribbons, etc.) with also decorated metope fields in between .

church

A more simply designed portal in line with the vestibule portal leads into the single-nave, wood-roofed church, which, however, already has a transverse rectangular vestibule yoke with a semicircular apse to the east . This is vaulted with ribs and is illuminated through three slot-like window openings, which are enclosed inside and outside by significantly wider blind arcades. There are more Romanesque capitals above the side half-column templates.

tower

The slender tower, possibly added later, rises in the north-west corner of the church. Its upper part with a bell chamber almost has a defensive character.

literature

Web links

Commons : Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Duratón)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 41 ° 17 ′ 16 "  N , 3 ° 40 ′ 43"  W.