Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe

Abbey church

The construction of the abbey church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. The 250-foot-high spire is more recent: erected in the 15th century and restored in the 19th century. A square tower rises above the crossing. Radiating from the polygonal apse are five chapels. An ambulatory circles the choir. The nave, consisting of nine bays is barrel-vaulted. This vault is almost entirely covered with 12th-century paintings, which are on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Paintings:

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Lower register: Creation of Eve - Introduction of Eve to Adam - Eve speaking to the serpent.

Lower register: Joseph (blue figure) is sold to "merchant men" (on horseback) by his brethren.

And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel... And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there up on the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink."

The Crypt:

The crypt has been closed for about ten years in order to preserve the mural paintings.