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Beaulieu-lès-Loches

Abbaye de la Sainte TriniteIndre-et-Loire (37)

EGLISE SAINT-LAURENT

Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Abbaye de la Sainte Trinite
Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Abbaye de la Sainte Trinite
The tower of Saint-Laurent's and the abbey's belfryRight, the abbey and its 180ft-high belfry
The tower of Saint-Laurent's and the abbey's belfryRight, the abbey and its 180ft-high belfry

The abbey of the Holy Trinity was founded in 1007 by Foulques Nerra, count of Anjou. He was a violent, unscrupulous man, hated because he plundered monasteries, killing the monks and raping the nuns. To obtain God's forgiveness, he went on numerous pilgrimages and founded monasteries like Beaulieu's abbey. The abbey was consecrated by cardinal Pierre, the Pope's legate. Enlarged in 1040 by Geoffrey Martel, Foulques's son, it was ransacked by the English soldiers of the Duke of Clarence during the Hundred Years war. It was plundered and burnt down in 1359 and 1412, restored in the 15th century, then damaged by three hurricanes. The west façade was rebuilt in the 20th century. The belfry dates to the 12th century

Ground plan and location of the wall painting
Ground plan and location of the wall painting
North ambulatory (11th century)
North ambulatory (11th century)
South chapel (Joseph and Mary) (11th century)
South chapel (Joseph and Mary) (11th century)
Apse
Apse

WALL PAINTING

Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Abbaye de la Sainte Trinite
Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Abbaye de la Sainte Trinite

Intrados of an arch in the central tower (12th century)

The church dedicated to St. Lawrence dates to the 12th and 13th centuries. The unusual tower dates to the 13th century

St. Laurent's and its 13th-century tower
St. Laurent's and its 13th-century tower
Plan et emplacement des peintures murales - Ground plan and location of the wall paintings
Plan et emplacement des peintures murales - Ground plan and location of the wall paintings
The nave
The nave

THE WALL PAINTINGS

West wall; general view of the 13th_century wall paintings
West wall; general view of the 13th_century wall paintings
Martyrdom of St. Catherine: one of the executioners is brandishing her severed head from which the crown has fallen. The expression on the saint's face is serene; the faces of the executioners, one of whom is wearing a conical hat, are grotesque
Martyrdom of St. Catherine: one of the executioners is brandishing her severed head from which the crown has fallen. The expression on the saint's face is serene; the faces of the executioners, one of whom is wearing a conical hat, are grotesque
Severed head brandished by the executioner
Severed head brandished by the executioner
Group of kneeling men, their hands clasped in prayer
Group of kneeling men, their hands clasped in prayer
Intrados decorated with a frieze
Intrados decorated with a frieze
Frieze (close-up)
Frieze (close-up)
Consecration cross
Consecration cross

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Location and nearby churches

  1. Loches 4.0 km
  2. Loches 4.0 km
  3. Le Liget (Chemillé-sur-Indrois) 10 km
  4. Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher 27 km
  5. Le Grand-Pressigny 28 km
  6. Palluau 29 km

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