Fenioux - Notre-Dame de l’Assomption

Fenioux, a small village with a population of less than 200, has this wonderful parish church "Notre-Dame de l’Assomption". Once the church was dedicated to "Saint-Savinien" and "Saint Pierre". It was built in the 12th century, about the same time, when Saint-Pierre in Aulnay was under construction - there are parallels.

The church was erected over a Carolingian oratory from the 9th century, of which some parts were integrated into the new building - and so still exist around the choir. The two portals are stunning. The smaller northern one is masterly carved in the "style saintongue", but may not be a surprise, but the large, western one, with its five archivolts is breathtaking. Though vandalized during the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution, when many sculptures here lost their heads, this is still extraordenary.


Here are more photos taken here:
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