Duravel - Saint-Hilarion

Duravel was known as Diolindum already in late Roman times. A chapel existed here probably since the 5th/6th century. This chapel, that got destroyed, had a crypt.

In 1055 Duravel was donated to the Abbey in Moissac, since then this was a priory. After the relics of the Saints Hilarion, Agathon and Poemon had been transferred to the priory from Moissac, pilgrims headed to this church.

A town developed next to the priory. THis town had already a population of about 6000, when it got besieged for weeks by English troops during the Hundred Years War. Duravel withststood the attack and the English left empty handed.

30 years after the church got severely damaged during the Wars of Religion, the last monks left and the priory was given up in 1626.

Since then most buildings of the priory got lost. The Romanesque church got rebuilt and reconstructed, but still seems very intact.

The crypt is placed under the crossing, what is pretty uncommon. It is a small "hall crypt" with three naves. It dates back to an earlier structure here (what explains the position) and is older than the Romanesque church. The crypt has been altered and enlarged in the 11th century, when the relics of the three saints were stored here. At that time there were two stairs on either side, to give the pilgrims and easy access.

There are some interesting capitals on the crypt.
At least three peacocks guarded the relics. Two of them were drinking (previous upload) while this really proud peacock one has just caught a snake.