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portal
Argenton-les-Vallées
Argenton-Château
Fides
archivolt
Saint-Gilles
Deux-Sèvres
virtues
vices
France
79
inscription
knight
Idolatria


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Argenton-Château - Saint-Gilles

Argenton-Château - Saint-Gilles
Since 2006 Argenton-Château and two other villages form the new commune Argenton-les-Vallées.

The rocky outcrop, overlooking the valley, was a strongly fortified place in medieval times. The chateau was home of a powerful family. In 1069 the Lord of Argenton Geoffroy de Blois hands over the church of Saint-Gilles to the Benedictine monks of the Bourgueil Abbey, who since then had a priory here. This was a kind of family business, as the abbey was founded 990 by Emma de Blois, Duchess of Aquitaine.

The church mentioned was a predecessor of the church seen here. From 1100 on the priory belonged to the abbey of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes. A new church was erected in the 12 century, replacing the older one. The facade, seen here, dates back to that church, while the most parts of the church result from a reconstruction of the 15th century.

Details from the second archivolt. Knights (virtues) fight beasts (vices). Here "FIDES : IDOLATRIA".

Unfortunately the vandals of the Revolution did a great damage here. The state the carvings have now, is the result of a decade long restoration process.

Comments
 Martin M. Miles
Martin M. Miles club
Sometimes the vandals felt a kind of fellowship to the evil creatures. I remember a portal in Burgundy, where all sculptures had lost their heads. All but the devils and Judas.
9 years ago.
 Martin M. Miles
Martin M. Miles club
I am convinced, that vandals who mutilated mermaids suffered from a severe sexual neurosis. Some may have ended as serial killers. I have an idea of a crime story. Something like Sueskind´s novel "Perfume", but without the scent. :-))>
9 years ago. Edited 9 years ago.

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