'Journees-du-Patrimoine' - day II

For the Sunday of 'Journees-du-Patrimoine' weekend we headed over to the Benedictine abbey complex at Cormery which was founded at the end of the 8th century and  active until the French Revolution. We were hoping to get a good look inside as it had intrigued us for some time.

The courtyard within the cloisters was set up with a bar and seating plus a stage and rock band - very medieval!

We joined our guide for the visit here - a charming young man who led us into the refectory building and proceeded to give us in great detail (and very fast French) info. on every nook and cranny - most of which went way over our heads!

As we tried to make an escape a lady from the caretakers convinced us to wait as we would be taken into the abbey house which we would find very interesting - we rejoined our guide as he led the group up into the building. 

It has been 'modernised to house the offices and accommodation for the caretakers but in the top floor it retains an original room which had been converted into a classroom.

Oh and another reason for choosing Cormery was that it was hosting its annual brocante which we managed to trek half way round,too large and buy a few bits and bobs.

Church on Sunday...Cormery

Today's visit is to the 12th century church of 'Notre Dame du Fougeray' in Cormery which has withstood the ravages of religions wars and revolution, coming through relatively unscathed.*

 It was built by the monks from the nearby Abbey of St.Paul who, although they had a church within their own abbey complex, had this built to serve the non-clergy part of the community. The abbey itself which dates back to 791 was not so lucky with only parts of it remaining standing today.

Inside 'Notre Dame du Fougeray' has a 'solid feel' and it does not take long before you begin to appreciate its sense of history.

The alter is made from the local tufa stone and sits under an impressive collection of stained glass windows and statues.

These statues and capitals within the apse are very impressive, you can see them in more detail here

The plan of the church is the simple Latin cross without aisles with two side alters.

Its simplicity is one of its most redeeming features.

There is a cedar carving of St.Christopher by Raymond Dubois (1940)

Where's Joan...

She's here, probably in the best form I have seen her here in the Loire Valley.

The Romanesque features of the church are most predominant on the outside with the windows and apse.

The wall of the apse of the church has some interesting graffiti which appears to date from the 17th century.

The elaborate wooden canopy covering the entrance to the church seems to belong to a different era but this makes it none the less interesting.

If you go to Cormery to visit the remnants of its abbey community you should make a point of walking a little further out of town to seek out this very interesting church,

* The bell from the church was meant to be seized by soldiers of the Revolution to be smelted down but legend has it that the women of the town got them drunk while the men spirited the bell to safety. Apparently  it is now used within the cathedral in Tours.

                             

A walk around...under the bridge at Cormery

Here is a pic. from last year taken from the bridge over the river Indre at Cormery. On the way down from dropping Pauline off at Tours airport on Thursday I decided to take a different route back which included coming through Cormery again. This time I decided to check out the view from under the bridge.