SAINT-PIERRE CHURCH OF PARTHENAY-LE-VIEUX
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Church classified as a historical monument, is characterized by its architectural homogeneity and the harmony of its proportions
Built at the end of the 11th century, the church of Saint-Pierre de Parthenay-le-Vieux is listed as a Historic Monument and is one of the major religious buildings of the Romanesque Poitou. Although it has been desecrated, it has been perfectly preserved and is characterised by its architectural homogeneity and the harmony of its proportions. Built on a classical Latin cross plan, the central nave is covered with a broken barrel vault, the transept has oriented chapels and the choir has semicircular apses vaulted in cul-de-four. A striking feature of this construction is its imposing octagonal bell tower (also found in Sainte-Eulalie de Secondigny, its surprising twin). The interior sculpted ornamentation remains sober as is often the case in Romanesque churches and is concentrated on the capitals. We find a vocabulary of monsters and local mythological figures as well as a rich plant decoration. The façade is rich: the large bay dominating the portal, the cornice decorated with cat heads, human heads and monsters. The arches are decorated with sculptures of women in tubs, quadrupeds, griffins and the figure of the fairy Melusine, half woman, half snake (or fish, the legend varies). Finally, the spandrels are the highlights of the ornamentation with, on the left, a horseman holding a falcon in his fist and trampling a figure on the ground and, on the right, the fight between Samson and the lion. The visit is charming.
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Une corniche saillante sur modillons divise horizontalement la façade. Elle est décorée d’une série de têtes de chats aux oreilles pointues. Amusant, tout comme les modillons qu’il faut bien observer! On y voit des têtes humaines, d’animaux ou de monstres. Plusieurs représentent des personnages arc-boutés paraissant soutenir l’édifice.
À l’intérieur, quelques beaux chapiteaux. Observez également les modillons qui semblent supporter les dalles sur lesquelles s’appuient les trompes de la coupole du clocher.