Lagrauliere - Saint-Marcel

Saint-Marcel dominates the center of Lagrauliere like a castle. Built in the 12th century on older foundations the church underwent a couple of alterations, fortifications and renovations over the centuries. Once monks from the Cistercian Obazine Abbey (30kms south) lived in the top floors of the tower.

Saint-Marcel dominates the center of Lagrauliere like a castle. Built in the 12th century on older foundations the church underwent a couple of alterations, fortifications and renovations over the centuries. Once monks from the Cistercian Obazine Abbey (30kms south) lived in the top floors of the tower.

The Cistercians may not have been the first here, as despite Bernard of Clairvaux´s damnation of sculptural works, the Romanesque portal of Saint-Marcel is remarkable. This may be a proof of an earlier influence from some unknown Cluniac place.

The right side of the portal is pretty weathered. A devil sits on the shoulders of a miser, who is identified by the moneybag around his neck. The devil is pulling the miser´s hair. To the right a person carrying a large fish.

I have the impression, that large parts of the medieval carving are missing here.

--

Thanks to Julianna Lees I know meanwhile that the right person is probably Tobias and the medicinal fish.

Tobit 6:4
" The angel said to him, "“Grab the fish and hang on to it."
So Tobias hung on to the fish and brought it up onto the
dry ground."