St-Sulpice (Marignac)
The former priory church of Saint-Sulpice in the southwestern French town of Marignac in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is one of the most architecturally significant Romanesque churches in Saintonge . The church has been recognized as a monument historique since 1896 .
Building history
The church was built in the 12th century; During this time, the Charroux Abbey , located about 100 kilometers to the northeast, owned a priory in Marignac. In the 14th century - perhaps in the course of the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) - the west side of the priory church was renewed, with the Romanesque portal decorations that had probably been lost to a large extent.
architecture
Choir head
The part of outstanding importance is the three apsidial choir area of the church, the middle apse of which is extended a little to the east by a choir bay . The outer structure of the three apses is almost the same: the semi -columns in front form the vertical structure, which is slightly loosened up by the arched friezes in between . Below the eaves, capitals , consoles and metope fields form an extremely richly designed decorative band, which is raised by circumferential diamond or star bars . The roofs of the three apses are covered with stone shingles ( lauzes ). The apses each have a small central window; the choir of the central apse receives additional light through two additional windows.
Crossing tower
In the center of the three apses, the crossing tower develops on a square floor plan , the basement of which is completely devoid of decoration, whereas the slightly recessed bell storey is vertically structured by corner and central pillars between which there are a total of eight sound openings . There are more console friezes under the eaves of the tower.
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Longhouse
The windows of different sizes give an idea that the eastern nave yoke is older than the two western yokes . The otherwise undivided outer walls are stabilized by buttresses - beveled in the lower part .
facade
The archivolt portal of the west facade, which is stepped down five times and supported by wall parts such as set columns, still shows remnants of the original decor. Above it is a console frieze, which forms the transition to an arcade zone above , the central arch of which is slightly higher than the others and contains a slender window opening. Another console frieze and the unadorned gable field close off the west facade at the top.
Nave
The nave of the church, about 4.5 meters wide and spanned by an open roof structure , has a single nave and is lined with large blind arcades; between these are pilasters with superimposed half-columns, which give an idea that the church was once arched, as indicated by the arch above the portal. On the south side in the transition from the nave to the crossing there is a stair tower - only accessible from the inside . The crossing is spanned by a dome - resting on trumpets in the corners and opened in the middle by an oculus ; The two ribbed belt arches as well as the side belt arches supported by double columns are extremely unusual .
decor
Vine and figure frieze
An extraordinarily richly designed tendril and figure frieze surrounds the interior of the three apses at the level of the capital and fighter zone (photos → web links). On closer inspection, the human and animal figures surrounded by tendrils appear almost playful. In any case, the originally warning, instructive and often grimacing, frightening and demonic dimension of such motifs takes a back seat to a great decorative lightness.
Painting
Parts of the apses and the figure frieze were probably painted in color shortly after their completion. However, this painting was renewed in the Baroque period and perhaps also extended to parts that were not originally painted. The longhouse, which looked rather pieced together, remained undecorated.
Photo gallery
Central nave
Altar and apse
North apse
South apse
Romanesque capital
Stone shingle roof on the apses
literature
- Thorsten Droste : The Poitou. Western France between Poitiers and Angoulême - the Atlantic coast from the Loire to the Gironde. DuMont, Cologne 1999, p. 222, ISBN 3-7701-4456-2 .
Web links
- Marignac, church - photos, floor plans + information (French)
- Marignac, church - photos + info (in French)
- Marignac, church - photos + info (in French)
- Marignac, church - photos
- Marignac, church, frieze of figures and tendrils - photos
Individual evidence
- ^ Église Saint-Sulpice, Marignac in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
Coordinates: 45 ° 31'19.1 " N , 0 ° 28'35.1" W.