Collégiale Notre-Dame d'Uzeste, Gothic church in Uzeste, France
Collégiale Notre-Dame d'Uzeste is a church with a Gothic nave supported by sixteen pillars that hold up the vaults overhead. A hexagonal tower rises above the sanctuary at the heart of the building, while Romanesque walls form the outer boundaries of the structure.
Construction began in the 13th century as a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. In the 14th century, Pope Clement V enlarged the building and selected it as his burial site.
The south entrance displays carved stonework depicting the Virgin being crowned, with traces of original pigment still visible on its surface. These sculptural details were designed to teach biblical stories to visitors who came to pray in this sacred space.
The site is open for visitors to explore both the exterior and interior of the church building. Allow time to walk around the structure and observe its architectural features and sculptural elements.
Inside the building are two painted wooden crucifixes from the 15th and 17th centuries that represent different styles of religious art. A 14th-century wooden statue of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child also stands within the walls, offering a glimpse into how artists portrayed sacred subjects across the centuries.
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