Church on Sunday...Holy Trinity Chapel,Richelieu

The tiny chapel of the Holy Trinity set behind the large doors of number 21 Grand Rue in Richelieu had intrigued me for a while and although it features on my 'Churches page' on www.experienceloire.com   I could not find any information on why it was there squashed between two of the grand town houses.

Last week when we revisited the town we took the opportunity to pop our heads in again. Inside there are some old photographs which looked to be of a school, pupils and teachers. The word orphelinat (orphanage) could be seen but the connection wasn't obvious. On Leaving the chapel we saw a group of people leaving one of the houses behind the chapel so took the opportunity to ask them if they knew its history.

They explained that we and the chapel were in the grounds of a former orphanage and as we looked behind them we could see some of the arches that feature in the photographs. So we had the answer but also more questions!  Tried to do a little more research on this but to no avail.

Church on Sunday...Saint George's Chapel, Rochecorbon

On a recent trip over to Vouvray we decided to try our luck and see if the little Saint Georges Chapel in Rochcorbon was open...and this time it was.

Saint Georges used to be a small village in its own right but as its population diminished it was absorbed into the larger Rochecorbon (1808). As you drive along the banks of the Loire towards Rochecorbon from Tours keep you eyes open for a small (very) sign on your right ,first major road off to the left. 

For such a small place it is full interesting things..

Not least, its 12th century frescoes...

  depicting the last supper.

More pics...will add more detail when I add it to my 'churches'page on experienceloire.com

Church on Sunday...Vallères

Sometimes the churches we 'stumble' upon just by choosing a new route are the ones that prove the most surprising...like the church of St. Médard in the small village of Vallères on the.D39 between Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry.It is another church that has evolved into its present form over the centuries. The first church built in the 11th century was destroyed and replaced by a new one in the 12th century - of which only the bell tower and apse remain.

The current vaulted nave and side aisles are the work of a rebuild in the second half of the 19th century,making the church look rather grand for such a small village. Apparently the villagers still say behind the 'churches' (plural) as there actually used to be two identical 12th and 13th century churches separated by an 8 metre gap -why? I don't know - but one was the parish church (dedicated to St.Médard) and the other 'for devotion' to the Virgin Mary - this was sadly ordered to be demolished in the 18th century due to its poor condition.

.

There is a wonderfully ornate baptismal font and pulpit set into one of the pillars.

Where's Joan?

Here she is placed on the altar of another lady as if as an afterthought!

At the base of her statue is the word 'reconnaissance' - is this perhaps referring to her late acknowledgement as a saint?

If  you choose to take this route you should take a look.

       

Church on Sunday...Saint-Nicolas Saumur

This week we head over to Saumur and the 12th century church of Saint-Nicolas. 

It is the side chapels that again feature the mosaics with collages featuring a variety of religious events including the 'flight into Egypt' and the 'Assumption'.

 ...including the massive supporting pillars

 What I have come to love about many French churches is their ability to give little clue externally to the pleasures that await you inside...like Saint-Nicolas.

View Larger Map

Church on Sunday...Saint-Hilaire-le Grand

We return to Poitiers today to visit the Romanesque Saint-Hilaire-le Grand. Not the obvious first choice monument perhaps on list of visitors to the city but in our opinion it is a 'must see'. 

We knew as soon as we entered that here was something special.It was only later we discovered that the church is in fact a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is part of the Route of Santiagode Compostela in France.It is dedicated to the city's first bishop and dates from the 11th century.

 It has a glorious apse surrounded by chapels.

As you wander around you are stuck by the seemingly inappropriate number of pillars inside the church, this is explained by the fact that its 11th century wooden roof was changed to a stone roof in the 12th century ...think they wanted to be sure it would stay up...but it makes for a great feature.

There is an interesting spiral staircase and a fine organ in the church...

and perhaps my favourite 'Joan' so far!

Carved on the base was 'Andre Besoueut  salon 1912' but cannot find who or what  this refers to.

A walk around the exterior throws up an interesting array of features

Including this decapitated statue of Mary and the baby Jesus from 1871. 

The church's history is filled with rampaging enemies(Saracens and Normans) and disasters (partial collapse) but it has survived them all to be the fine building it is today. The majority of the restoration work was carried out in the 19th century.

 If you visit Poitiers you should make a point of adding this fine example onto your list.