Avy - Notre-Dame

Avy is a small a village just about 5kms south of Pons. The parish church Notre-Dame d'Avy was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years' War the church was rebuilt later in Gothic style.

The western facade of Notre-Dame survived the times, only the left side got lost. This is the church I have visited most often of all small churches in the Saintonge - and was always impressed.

I remember the day, when I counted the Elders of the Apocalypse (outer archivolt). Here are 36 Elders (the "Book of Revelation" only knows 24). Later I learned, that this number may have been a status symbol. In Saintes (Abbaye aux Dames) I found even 54 Elders. In Aulnay are 31 Elders..

All these Elders hold musical instruments. Here in Avy one of the Elders holds a bird! PETA has not noticed that so far..

I could not leave the Saintonge without having seen Avy again..