Old église Saint-Vincent de Mérignac, former church located in Gironde, in France
The Old église Saint-Vincent is a church building built between 1122 and 1131 in the Romanesque style characteristic of the 12th century. Inside, a rectangular nave leads to a rounded apse flanked by two smaller side chapels, with a square tower rising at the crossing.
The building rose on the ruins of an earlier Merovingian church from the 7th and 8th centuries and served as a burial ground and gathering place. It suffered fire damage during the Fronde civil wars in the 17th century but was rebuilt afterward.
The church carries the name of Saint-Vincent and served as the spiritual heart of the community for centuries. Today, visitors experience the space through art exhibitions and photographs, giving the old building a fresh role in the town's cultural life.
The building sits in the town center of Mérignac, roughly 20 minutes by car from Bordeaux, and remains easily accessible. It was placed under protected monument status in 1987 and features a medieval-inspired garden that invites visitors to linger.
The carved stones showcase medieval craftsmanship with quirky figures that are easy to miss, such as a man lifting a barrel or animal heads and stretched proportions. These details add character and curiosity to the building that many visitors overlook on first glance.
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