St-Étienne, Romanesque church in Vaux-sur-Mer, France.
Saint-Étienne is a Romanesque church in Vaux-sur-Mer featuring a direct entrance into the transept crossing, topped by a square bell tower. A semicircular apse adorned with columns marks the eastern end of the building, while the nave displays typical rounded arches and stone construction.
The church was established in 1075 by Pierre and Arnaud Gémon from the Mortagne family and was originally connected to a Benedictine abbey. This foundation made the building both a religious and economic center for the surrounding region.
The choir capitals display religious imagery such as the eucharistic vine and Adam depicting original sin, reflecting the Saintonge Romanesque artistic tradition. These carvings reveal how the faithful learned spiritual lessons through visual storytelling within the church walls.
The building is located on rue de l'Église in Vaux-sur-Mer and remains open for exterior viewing, though current renovations restrict access to the interior. Visitors can admire the outer facade and apse decorations while exploring the surrounding area.
The apse features intricate arcade decorations topped with carved modillions displaying various figurative motifs characteristic of the region. These ornamental details represent some of the finest examples of their kind preserved along the Atlantic coast of France.
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