Moissac - Abbaye Saint-Pierre

A legend tells, that the Abbaye Saint-Pierre was founded by Frankish King Clovis in 506, but historians proved that it was indeed founded founded within the 7th century by the Bishop of Cahors.

It was not easy for the convent. It got attacked by moorish troops twice within the 8th century. A hundred years later the Normans rowed up the Garonne and raided the place. After Hungarian troops had looted and destroyed it finally in the 10th century the monastery got rebuilt.

When the pilgrimage to Santiago got popular, the Abbey got affiliated to Cluny and was a major halt on the Via Podensis. This was the golden age for the abbey and the abbots invested in architecture and art. The Romanesque church, consecrated already in 1063, got completely destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade.

The portal, created 1110/1130, survived the times. It is a great piece of Romanesque art.

This is a small detail of the tympanum, that refers to the Book of Revelation. The apocalypse is a common theme on tympana along the pilgrim-routes during the 12th century (eg. Morlaas, Conques, Aulnay, Saintes...).

The Elders of the Apocalypse, holding their vielles, are masterly carved and very rich in details. They are all focussed on Christ in the center - and sit very relaxed.

Revelation 4:4

"Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads."