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 capitals in the nave as well as in the narthex are carved in a pretty rough style, compared to the masterly carved tympanum of Sanit-Pierre. The carvings here may be a century (or less) older than the tympanum.

This is the left side of the (inner) portal. It is inside the narthex and so not very weathered. There is a lion to the very left. To see from this pov are two pairs of birds on the left and two lions on the right capital. Compared to the tympanum (only bout 2 meters apart, a very rough work. Above is an inscription - a signature, that is hard to read - and very long.

GIRBERTUS - CEMENTARIUS - FECIT ISTUM PORTARIUM - BENEDICTA SIT ANIMA EIUS

Girbertus, the mason, created this portal, blessed be his soul.

This is the longest medieval signature I have ever seen - and the first with a "job title".