Parthenay-le-Vieux - Saint-Pierre

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences.

Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup!

All pillars of the crossing have carved capitals. This one is decorated with two winged hybrid creatures, havig a goat´s top and a snake´s bottom. CAPRICORNIUS is written up there, so they are "sea goats" (half goat/half fish) - a zodiac sign.

Or - (again!) they refer (a bit) to the Mélusine tale, like the ladies in the bathtubes and the mermaids may. This legendary water nymph, was a woman, who was a serpent or fish from the waist down (what was found out by her husband, seeing her in a bathtube).