Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre - Saint-Étienne

Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre - Saint-ÉtienneThis unique church complex, once part of a collegiate and dedicated to Saint-Jaques, combines a round church and attached to this a rectangular basilica.

A local noble named Eudes of Deols, who had traveled to the Holy Land in 1027, founded this church around 1040, a replica of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. Over centuries this was a major stop-over for pilgrims following the Via Lemovicensis.

Eleven pillars form the center of the rotunda. The number "11" may stand for the number of apostles after Judas left. All the pillars have very elaborated capitals.
The style of the capitals, that are part of the wall around the center, is much rougher. This is one of them: a huge fire-spitting (?), winged dragon - and a small centaur /sagitarius.