Saint-Savin sur Gartempe

Saint-Savin sur Gartempe
Fresco at Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
The Romanesque Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe, constructed in the mid 11th century, contains many beautiful 11th- and 12th-century murals which are still in a remarkable state of preservation.





Year Decision Comments
2006Name changeFrom "Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe" to "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe"
1983 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

Reviews

Fred Vanderpoorten (Belgium):
Since the western half of the church is being restored at the moment, we have only seen half of the frescos. We were very impressed and I would immediately go and see the full ceiling when possible.
Those who are interested in romanesque art should not miss Église Saint-Pierre in Chauvigny (only 20 km west of Saint-Savin) and the five (!) romanesque churches in Poitiers.
An invaluable expierience!
Date posted: July 2006
David Berlanda (Italy / Czech Republic):
In our trip to France we have visited the church in Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, that was part of an abbey, a Romanesque masterpiece with simply lines and only a tower as façade; it has also a nice apse with radiating chapels, an ambulatory and a square porch. Inside there is a nave with nine bays, barrel vaults, rounded arches and a double row of columns with capitals sculpted with animals and plants; the lower lateral naves have groin vaults. The church is from the 11th century but there are some older parts: the base of the porch, the transepts with wings, the absidioles, the square tower and the crypts. The church is famous because of his frescos, representing on the vault of the porch and on the tympanum of the doorway the Apocalypse, on the barrel vaulting of the main nave 28 biblical scenes, on the upper tribune of the porch the Passion of Christ and scenes of martyrs, in the choir and on the piers of the transept many saints and on the walls of the crypts the story of St. Savin and St. Cyprian.
I was a little bit disappointed by the church because I imagined it more impressive but I liked very much its frescos. It's worth to be visited if you are in Poitou and justifies the inscription because of its frescos, the nicest Romanesque paintings in France.
Photo: Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe - Church
Date posted: February 2006
Emile Hensen (Holland):
Highly impressive. It looks like a church from outside. But once you get in, it is a stunning and overwhelming experience. It really is the Romanesque equivalent of 'the' Sistine Chapel in Rome.
Date posted: January 2006


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