Melle - Saint-Pierre

Melle was known already during Roman times, when silver and lead were mined here. The silver mines were exploited over hundreds of years, got forgotten and "rediscovered" in the 19th century. Today they are a tourist attraction. Melle was wealthy and the pilgrims, walking the Via Turonensis, passed through Melle on their way to Santiago, what brought even more money into town.

Churches were erected during the heydays of the pilgrimage. Three (!) Romanesque churches can still be found here. Melle must have been a large building site within the 12th century, with hundreds of construction worker and dozends of carvers.

An oratory, dedicated to St. Peter, was existing here around 950 in the center of a Carolingian cementary. This humble chapel was dependent from the mighty Benedictine abbey of Saint-Maixent (25kms north). This small structure got extended and enlarged in two stages during the early 12th century. The choir with the nicely decorated chapels and transept form the oldest existing part.

The church was set on fire and defaced during the Wars of Religions. After the French Revolution this was the meeting place for the assemblies of the inhabitants. Prosper Mérimée initiated the restaurations undertaken from 1855 on.

Saint-Pierre´s southern portal. It may well be, that the master builder, who designed the northern portal of Saint-Hilaire (1km south). worked here as well, as the two portals look like twins. The carver created perfect floral archivolts here, which still are in a good condition.

The trio above the archivolts got mutilated by the fury of the Wars of Religions. The enthroned Jesus and the two flanking persons (Mary and John?) have all lost their heads.

Just over the entrance, between the weathered corbels are fishes, centaurs - and a pig.