Airvault - Saint-Pierre

Saint-Pierre was the church of one of the largest Augustinian abbeys in the Poitou, that was founded in 991 by Audéarde, the wife of viscount Herbert I of Thouars. The monastery was on one of the "chemins" of the Via Turonensis, so when the number of pilgrims increased, the Canons Regular of St. Augustine had this large church erected in two construction phases from the 12th century on. This church is very long and has a wide ambulatory. It could surely host large groups of pilgrims.

When the era of the pilgrimage ended, the abbey declined and impoverished during the Hundred Years' War. Most conventual buildings were destroyed in the Wars of Religion. The abbey church now serves the parish.

Saint-Pierre has an extraordinary density of medieval carvings. Most of these works are well preserved.

An armed horseman is in the center of the capital, the stoic guy by his side is attacked by a lion, but shows no defense. On the right side of the capital (not visible from this pov) a dragon awaits the rider. Below the capital is the huge head of a frightening lion, ready to jump down to the onlookers.