Le Châtelet - Notre-Dame-de-Puyferrand

Puyferrand (= Puy-Ferrand) is a small hamlet, that is part of the small town Le Châtelet. The church was part of a priory, sponsored by the Seigneurs de Déols, existed here since 1070. As the church as well served the growing parish, the church got enlarged already within the 12th century by an additional nave, named "Chapelle Saint-Blaise".

The church was built following the blueprint of a "Latin Cross" with a long nave crossed by a transept.

The church got severely damaged in 1569 during the Wars of Religion. The structure was rebuilt later. Many of the carvings outside got destroyed during the wars, only a few survived (previous uploads).

The capitals around the crossing are older and clearly differ in style. They are very rough - and enigmatic. This capital got reused as a base for statue. The top row of heads may depict horned devils (?), while below are the heads of poor sinners. Over all these heads is a beheaded saint.

There are many "kephalophoroi", martyrs who carried their heads away after they were beheaded. The best known in France is Saint Denis.