Église de l'Assomption de Rieux-Minervois, Romanesque church in Rieux-Minervois, France.
The Église de l'Assomption is a Romanesque church with an unusual interior shaped as a 14-sided polygon inscribed within an 18-meter diameter circle. A central dome crowns this distinctive interior space, creating a rare architectural composition.
Construction of the church began in the late 11th century under Monseigneur Dalmace, Archbishop of Narbonne. This early Romanesque period established the foundation for its unusual geometric design.
The sculptured capitals inside show detailed carvings attributed to the Master of Cabestany, depicting Mary's Assumption surrounded by angels. These stone figures reveal how the church conveyed religious stories to visitors through visual art.
From May to October, visitors can explore the church through guided tours, while visits outside this period require obtaining a key from the town hall. It is helpful to verify opening conditions beforehand, especially if you arrive outside the main season.
The church displays architectural borrowings from Byzantine structures, particularly evident in references to the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. These distant influences make it a notable example of cultural exchange in medieval southern France.
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