Rioux - Notre-Dame de l’Assomption

Not much is known about the history of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, an outstanding example of the specific "style saintongeais".

As the structure is so masterly built and has such sophisticated carvings, it is believed, that this was a priory church, when it was built mid of the 12th century.

The apse of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption has an enormous richness on Romanesque carvings. The corbels depict musicians, acrobats, mythical animals and chimerae like this centaur, who is using a slingshot, a very powerful weapon. A slingshot is a bit unusual, most centaurs are equipped with bows and arrows.