Saint-Savin sur Gartempe
 Fresco at Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe |
Below the church is the Crypt of the legendary martyr brothers St Savin and St Cyprian, also frescoed with the lives of these two saints.
| Year | Decision | Comments |
| 2006 | Name change | From "Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe" to "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe" |
| 1983 | Inscribed | Reasons for inscription |
Reviews
Thibault Magnien (France): 
The Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe is well conserved edifice located on the Gartempe River in the Poitou area. This building is remarkable and famous for its collection of well conserved Romanesque mural paintings. These paintings represent several episodes of the Holy Bible and were used to teach religion to people that generally were not able to read. Build during the 12th century, the abbey in a real splendor as well as a beautiful example of religious artwork. Date posted: March 2012 John Booth (New Zealand): 
Travelled by bus from Poitiers bus station to St Savin sur Gartempe, arriving by the bridge over the river.
The abbey and the church with its tall spire dominate the village. The restoration work now having been completed the interior is magnificent again. The frescoes on the walls, columns and ceilings in the nave look bright and fresh, while those in the chancel are original and worn-looking. The ceiling frescoes, scenes from the Old Testament are especially interesting. Date posted: May 2010 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
Have you been to Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe? Share your experiences!
In the News
Links
» Official website.
» Photos and description of the church (in French).
Country: France
Inscribed: 1983
Cultural Heritage
Criteria: (1) (3)
Category: Religious structure, Christian
Architecture:
Romanesque .
Religion and Belief:
Benedictines .
Timeline:
Built in the 11th century .
Trivia:
Dubbed as another WHS . Named after a local Christian saint . Smallest cultural WHS .
© WHS 1997-2012