Nuaillé-sur-Boutonne - Notre-Dame

Around Aulnay are a couple of small church, that are often underestimated, as "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is such overwhelming, that it shadows everything around. But the craftsmen, that created "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" did not only work there, but they also found jobs in the area. Notre Dame in Nuaillé-sur-Boutonne, located only 7 kms west of Aulnay, is an example of this.

The small church was erected in the 12th century, same time as Aulnay.

Depicted on the outer archivolt are the Magi, who were adored by all pilgrims at that time. The Magi had followed the Star of Bethlehem on their long journey to Bethlehem, just like the pilgrims following the "chemin" to Santiago. From Aulnay it was a walk of less than two hours to see the Magi here.

A very rough carved in graffiti of a horse, probably carved in by a medieval pilgrim. Obviously a horse rider, most of them carved in a horseshoe instead of a "complete" horse. Many who walked have carved in soles, some who came by boat carved ships. The Saintonge area has many such graffiti, as here the thousands who followed the Via Turonensis from Paris, met here the many English pilgrims who had crossed the Channel.