Cozes - Saint-Pierre

A large Romanesque church, belonging to the Augustinian Abbey of Saint-Étienne de Mortagne (15kms south), got erected in Coze within the 12t/13th century. The abbey went under, the church got altered and finally in disrepair. In 1756 the vaults of the nave collapsed and it took great efforts to rebuilt the church within the 19th century.

Some parts of the nave are dating back to the Romanesque structure. On the outside are two extraordenary capitals, illustrating "The Fox and the Stork", one of Aesop´s Fables, that were very popular in medieval times.

Here is part 2

The stork then invites the fox to have a meal. This is served in a narrow-necked vessel. It is easy for the stork to access the food but impossible for the fox.

Unfortunetaly the stork lost its beak.