Bourbon-l'Archambault - Saint-Georges

Bourbon-l'Archambault is the place of origin of the House of Bourbon, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. In Roman times a settlement, named "Bituriges" existed here, and where Saint-Georges is now, once was temple, dedicated to Apollo.

The church was erected in the second half of the 12th century and belonged to a monastery of Benedictine nuns in Saint-Menoux (10kms east). The church, that has parallels in Burgundy and in the Auvergne, got altered and enlarged over the centuries.

During the enlargments many of the medieval capitals got destroyed, but along the nave and around the crossing are still some interesting (multicoloured) ones, strongly influenced by the carvings style common in Auvergne.

This capital (seen from two povs) may depict the medieval system of the estates of the realm. The bishop (holding a crozier) stands for the clergy (first estate), the black dressed person in the center stands for the nobility (second estate), the two persons to the right stand for the peasants (thrird estate). Only the bishop has an arm / a hand...