Vouvant - Notre-Dame

The first church here was founded by William V, Duke of Aquitaine, (aka "William the Great", "Guillaume le Grand") around 1000. He was the son of William "Fierebras" (= iron arm). His daughter Agnes of Poitou was the wife of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor. As a widow she was known as "Empress Agnes". William the Great was a supporter of the abbey in nearby Maillezais, so it is no surprise, that a priory was founded here.

"Notre Dame" the former church of that priory now serves as parish church of Vouvant, a village of less than a thousand inhabitants. The church was erected within the 11th and 12th century - and very soon after in was completed, the western front got demolished and the nave got enlarged. Obviously a great number of monks and laybrothers lived here at that time, reclaiming land in the swampy "Marais Poitevin".

Just like the abbey in Maillezais, the priory in Vouvant suffered great damages during the 100 Year´s War. It got later looted and ruined during the Wars of Religion. The priory went under - and the church crumbled until the first restaurations were done in 1882. The works ended the same year due to lack of funds.

After a recent renovation, the church is in much better condition. This is the lower part of the western facade, that was completed within the 12th century. I learned, that most details of the two small archivolts over the two doors are a result of the 19th century renovation, while the large archivolt was "unharmed" and is a great piece of poitevin art of the 12th century. The inner archivolt consists out of 32 (of once 36) acobatic atlants, who hold up the outer archivolt, that is populated with about 40 animals, plants, faces and mythic creatures, that remind me of Aulnay.

Within the archivolt are two large Romanesque sculptures (the frieze between them got lost). While Samson on the right tears the lion apart, he is loosing all of his physical power to the left. His wife bends over him - and gives him a new haircut.