Church of St Jacques

The collegiate church of St Jacques, consecrated in 1171, was built to welcome pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The beautifully carved facade of the original Church still remains.

In 1562, the nave, choir loft and  bell tower were completely destroyed during the religious wars. The Church in its current form was completed in 1710.

Inspired by the cathedrals of Angouleme and Poitiers, the church is built of limestone. The triple Saintonge style archways show a combination of the oriental and western influences which are the signature of Romanesque Art.

NB :
The Romanesque influence in the art of stone-masonry
The Moorish influence from Spain, shown in the polyfoiled entrance portal
The Carolingian influence inspired from illuminated manuscripts and goldsmith’s plates
The Celtic, Visigoth and Scandinavian influences shown in abstract deco sculptures
The Byzantine influence brought back from the Crusades

The carving of the capitals, the symmetry of the composition, the elegant arcades and the many symbols illustrating cosmology in the stone carvings were, for the 12th   century pilgrims and believers, a vision of the beauty of the world created by God.

Mediaeval man, often illiterate, would read in these images and colorful carvings, which were his bible, the spiritual message which would lead to his salvation.

The mixture of the signs of the zodiac, the natural world, gargoyles, griffins, mythical figures and human faces combine to provide a symbolism,  which feeds the imagination, challenges, frightens and informs the observer.

Even truncated and damaged, the  title page of this stone book  has brought together the visible and the invisible on the path to the Christian faith and has enriched for the memory of a holy splendor for all.