La Charité-sur-Loire - Notre-Dame

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated, when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important for historians, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities

It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers crashed down already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire and partly collapsed.

The priory existed upto the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it.

This portal is inside of Notre Dame. Just as seen at the outside portal, the carving style is very dynamic. Christ in the mandorla holds a bible. I could not read the words in the banners, the two bearded saints (apostles?) hold. Below (left) the Magi adorating Virgin and Child. Mary is seated on a kind of throne, Joseph waiting behind. To the right is the "Presentation of Jesus at the Temple".