Poitiers - Notre-Dame la Grande

Notre-Dame la Grande, a former collegiate church, was completed around 1150. This facade is a masterpiece of Romanesque art.

The church replaced an older one, known since the 9th century. The western facade is the result of an enlargement. In the first half of the 12th century, the older facade got removed - and two spans were added to the nave toward the west. The facade (sometimes called it a "frontage-screen") completed that enlargement. This facade is a brilliant example of the Romanesque "style poitevin". As the church went trough the Wars of Religions and the French Revolution many of the carvings are damaged.

Seen here is the central arch of the facade with wonderful archivolts and strange animals above. A tympanum is not part of the "style poitevin". Here a tympanum is carved over the wooden door. This may be added with the door in the 19th century, when the church got restored.