Porte Miègeville, Romanesque door at Basilica of St. Sernin, Toulouse, France
The Miègeville Portal is a Romanesque entrance at the Basilica of Saint-Sernin with an ornately carved tympanum and lintel below it displaying detailed figures. The composition shows Christ's Ascension in the upper section, with apostles and other biblical figures arranged around the sides of the doorway.
The portal was created around 1090 and stands among the earliest monumental church doorways in France to feature a carved tympanum. Its construction marked a turning point in how religious buildings used sculpted decoration to communicate with worshippers.
The sculpted surround tells biblical stories that met visitors as they entered the church, speaking directly to those who could not read. These carved scenes served as visual instruction in Christian teachings for the broader community.
The portal sits on the south side of the basilica and is easily reached from Rue du Taur. Since this entrance is part of the active church building, you can view it during the basilica's regular opening hours.
The name comes from Occitan 'mièjo vilo,' meaning it faced toward the center of medieval Toulouse. This geographic naming reveals how the entrance served as a landmark for people navigating the city's streets.
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