Château-l'Hermitage

CHÂTEAU-L'HERMITAGE: NOTRE-DAME ABBEY CHURCH

L'église date des XII^e, XIII^e, XV^e et XVII^esiècles. La première pierre fut posée en 1144 par Geoffroy V Plantagenêt. L'église abbatiale fut fortifiée pendant la guerre de Cent Ans. Le clocher date probablement du XII^e siècle, le choeur du XIII^e alors que la nef a été remaniée au XV^e siècle. Le portail date de la fin du XV^e siècle.

The church dates back from the 12^th, 13^th, 15^th and 17^th centuries. The foundation stone was laid in 1144 by Geoffroy V Plantagenet. The abbey church was fortified during the Hundred Years war. The tower probably dates back to the 12^th century, the choir to the 13^th whereas the nave was altered in the 15^th century. The portal was erected in the late 15^thcentury.

The portal is adorned with three statues: saint Sebastian, the Virgin and saint Denis.

Mural paintings:

René de Daillon presented to the Holy Trinity. René de Daillon was prior of Château-l'Hermitage from 1578 to 1600. He is represented kneeling in front of the Trinity. The mural dates back to the 16^th century.

Saint Christopher (17^th century). Saint Christopher is holding a staff and carrying the Child Jesus on his shoulders. The paintings representing saint Christopher are often much larger than those showing other saints. On the one hand, saint Christopher was said to have been a giant, on the other hand, good Christians were supposed to look at his image at least once a day in order to avoid dying a sudden death on that day.

The misericords are inspired by medieval "fabliaux".