Carennac - Saint-Pierre

Carennac is a very picturesque village perching above the banks of the Dordogne river. The village is one of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de Franc". Not much seems to have changed within the last centuries.

In 1047 a priory had been founded here, depending from the Benedictine abbey Saint-Pierre in Moissac and so woven into the "cluniac system".
Saint-Pierre, now the parish church of Carennac, was erected within the 11th/12th century. The impressive tympanum, seen here, was created in the second half of the 12th century.

Christ in Majesty sits enthroned in the centre of a large mandorla, one hand on the bible, the other in a blessing gestus. The Evangelists´ symbols flank the mandorla. On either side are the Apostles, grouped pairs and obviously the Apostles are communicating. One statue is lost. On the bottom corners are two small monks (?), holding books. The mandorla has a row of drilled holes, that may have been once bases for glass-stones, but that is unproven.

Note the nice lintel. There are animals, carved in a very different style.