Today we are visiting the 'Eglise Notre Dame' in the charming spa town of La Roche Posay just over the other side of the river Creuse. The church dates back to the 11th century from which period only the Romanesque bell tower remains.
The church has an impressive Gothic entrance with a statue of our lady and the baby Jesus taking centre stage.
Inside is quite imposing with the stained glass in the Gothic style windows bringing light and colour into what would otherwise be a stark interior.
Apart from this 19th century window (above) by Jaques le Chevallier, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, all the windows are post World War II. This is because in an apparent vain attempt to delay the advancing German army the bridge over the Creuse was mined with the resulting explosion destroying most of the glass in the windows of the church.
I liked the rather child-like 'stations of the cross'
The alters (17th century) in the side chapels are from the now destroyed Cistercian abbey in nearby Merci Dieu (love this name),one depicting the nativity scene and the other the martyrdom of saint Lawerence.
View towards the back of the church.
Where's Joan?...
Had it not been for the subtle clue I would probably have missed her!
On one side of the church you have views over the river itself from a little terrace garden while on the other the houses of the town have integrated themselves to the church building.
We visited during the canicule, and like you, I loved the stations of the cross. Almost always these are intricate but your description if 'child-like' sums them up. There was also a much bigger plaque in the side chapel. It was a haven of coolness and calm. The flowers in the garden were in full bloom.
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