Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Bonneuil-Matours

Upto the French Revolution Saint-Pierre was the center of a small priory, dependend from Saint-Cyprien in near Poitiers at 980, when the place was mentioned first time. The church got erected during the 12th century near the banks of the Vienne. The church serves the parish since the Revolution, but it must have been in a ruined state. In the 1850s the nave had to be rebuilt, using the old capitals. What a chimera! There is a human head (with a forked tongue and a strange hairdo), the body of a snake, forelegs, wings - and dogs´ heads at the rear end. Actually the human head is shared by two of these horrible beasts..

Upto the French Revolution Saint-Pierre was the center of a small priory, dependend from Saint-Cyprien in near Poitiers at 980, when the place was mentioned first time. The church got erected during the 12th century near the banks of the Vienne. The church serves the parish since the Revolution, but it must have been in a ruined state. In the 1850s the nave had to be rebuilt, using the old capitals. Winged snakes attack dogs and birds. A very complex work!

Upto the French Revolution Saint-Pierre was the center of a small priory, dependend from Saint-Cyprien in near Poitiers at 980, when the place was mentioned first time. The church got erected during the 12th century near the banks of the Vienne. The church serves the parish since the Revolution, but it must have been in a ruined state. In the 1850s the nave had to be rebuilt, using the old capitals. Dogs (or Wolves?) of hell have a poor soul by the ears, watched by a bird below. The twisted tails of the dogs end in the mouth of another head.

Upto the French Revolution Saint-Pierre was the center of a small priory, dependend from Saint-Cyprien in near Poitiers at 980, when the place was mentioned first time. The church got erected during the 12th century near the banks of the Vienne. The church serves the parish since the Revolution, but it must have been in a ruined state. In the 1850s the nave had to be rebuilt, using the old capitals. Lions sharing heads. This is the same "icon", as seen on the previous upload, but this was produced by a different, more experienced workshop (maybe some decades later). The style of the carving is much more elaborate. Note the line of (crowned) birds above the lions.

Upto the French Revolution Saint-Pierre was the center of a small priory, dependend from Saint-Cyprien in near Poitiers at 980, when the place was mentioned first time. The church got erected during the 12th century near the banks of the Vienne. The church serves the parish since the Revolution, but it must have been in a ruined state. In the 1850s the nave had to be rebuilt, using the old capitals. Lions sharing heads are a common icon within the 12th century. The style of this capital is very simple, so this carving may be one of the oldest inside Saint-Pierre. There are more lions..

Upto the French Revolution Saint-Pierre was the center of a small priory, dependend from Saint-Cyprien in near Poitiers at 980, when the place was mentioned first time. The church got erected during the 12th century near the banks of the Vienne. The church serves the parish since the Revolution, but it must have been in a ruined state. In the 1850s the nave, seen here, had to be rebuilt, using the old capitals. The choir and the crossing are still unchanged (but of course renovated).

Upto the French Revolution Saint-Pierre was the center of a small priory, dependend from Saint-Cyprien in near Poitiers at 980, when the place was mentioned first time. The church got erected during the 12th century near the banks of the Vienne. The church serves the parish since the Revolution, but it must have been in a ruined state. In the 1850s the nave had to be rebuilt, using the old capitals.