Tauriac - Saint-Etienne

A "villa Tauriaca" was given to the Bishop of Le Mans already in 585 by some Alderic. At that time probably a chapel existed here. The portal seen today dates to the 12th. century - and it is unusual, as it does have tympana in the flanking arches. Modifications were made, when the church got fortified in the 16th century, but meanwhile the portal is pretty much back to the original state.

It is claimed, that some of the carvings may be older than the church and may have been part of the earlier (merovingien?) church.

A very weathered equestrian is in the center of the left tympanum. Such statues are not very common. Further north are a few (Surgères, Melle, Parthenay-le-Vieux, Airvault), where under the hoof of horese is a small person. It is widely believed, that the statues depict Constantine the Great, trampling down Roman heathenism.

In Southern France (eg. Oloron St. Marie) and Northen Spain similar statues are seen as Saint Jaques ("Matamoro"), fighting the muslims on the Hispanic peninsula and so supporting the reconquista