Thouars - Saint-Médard

Thouars was an Aquitanien fortress, placed in a loop of the river Thouet. It was conquered and burnt down in 762 down by Pepin the Short, King of the Franks, who was accompanied by his 14 years old son, the future Charlemagne.

In medieval times, the town prospered, and in the 12th century a large basilica-style church named "Saint-Médard-des-Champs" was erected just outside the city walls. Today this church is in the center of the town, that once was a stronghold of the Huguenots. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685) Thouars lost about half of its population, as most of the Huguenots migrated.

The facade of Saint-Médard is created in the late Romanesque "style poitevin". The facade got "heavily" renovated during the 1870s. Here are two of the facade´s capitals. The the left is a musician accompanied by devils, probably standing for profane (sinful) music. To the right a man, being caught by the ears by a bird and a dragon.
I doubt, that these carvings date back to the 12th century. They are so smooth, mint and complete, compared to other parts of the facade. I have the impression that they were added during the renovation end of the 19th century.