Église Notre Dame de Montmorillon, church in Montmorillon, France
Église Notre-Dame de Montmorillon is a church built on a rocky ledge above the river La Gartempe, with construction beginning in the 11th century. The building features a Latin cross layout with Romanesque eastern sections, a 13th-century Gothic vaulted nave, and reinforced walls from periods of warfare.
Construction began in the late 11th century in Romanesque style and was later expanded with Gothic elements. During the Hundred Years' War and Wars of Religion, the building suffered damage and was reinforced with thicker walls and sealed windows for protection.
The church is dedicated to Notre-Dame and served as the spiritual heart of Montmorillon for centuries. Its decorated doorway and the murals in the crypt still reflect the faith and artistic values that shaped this community's identity.
The church is currently closed to visitors due to safety concerns since 2018. You can view the exterior facade and its silhouette perched on the rocky ledge from outside, and you can contact the Montmorillon tourist office for information about the building's history and reopening plans.
The church houses an underground crypt called Sainte-Catherine decorated with beautiful 12th-century frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. These valuable murals blend Romanesque and early Gothic artistic styles and rank among the finest medieval paintings in the region.
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