Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Beaulieu, Romanesque abbey in Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, France.
Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Beaulieu is a former Benedictine abbey church built from the late 11th to the early 13th century. Its three-aisled nave has barrel vaults over the central vessel and groin vaults in the side aisles, with a slightly raised crossing under a dome. The east end has a choir ambulatory with three radiating chapels, and the south porch shelters a carved tympanum about 5.8 m wide and 4.3 m high.
Raoul de Turenne, Archbishop of Bourges, founded the abbey in 855 on family land called Bellus Locus, bringing twelve monks from Solignac and relics of Saints Prime, Felicianus and Felicity obtained in Rome. In 1076 the monastery was placed under Cluny, and under Abbot Géraud II (1097–1119) a new church was begun before 1130, starting with the choir, transept and last nave bay. The south nave and portal followed from 1160, while the west facade and first two bays were completed only in the 13th century.
The south porch, built around 1130–40, holds a tympanum about 5.80 m wide and 4.30 m high, split by a central trumeau. Christ sits with arms spread, angels carrying the Cross and the Arma Christi behind him; there is no weighing of souls, so the scene is read as Christ in majesty at the Resurrection rather than the Last Judgement.
The interior holds many historical liturgical objects including medieval reliquaries and religious artworks that visitors can examine while walking through. Taking time to move slowly allows you to notice the carved details throughout the space.
The south portal's tympanum, about 5.80 m wide and 4.30 m high, is held up by a central trumeau pier. Unlike most Last Judgement scenes, it shows no Archangel Michael weighing souls and no separation of saved and damned: Christ sits with arms spread wide while angels carry the Cross and other Arma Christi, and one angel lowers an octagonal crown toward him.
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