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Church of Saint Christoph of Vianne dans le Lot-et-Garonne

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Eglise
Eglise romane
Lot-et-Garonne

Church of Saint Christoph of Vianne

    D642 
    47230 Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Église Saint-Christophe de Vianne
Crédit photo : MOSSOT - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1200
1300
1400
1500
1800
1900
2000
XIIe siècle
Initial construction
1284
Bastide Foundation
1395
Installation of religious
XIVe siècle
Expansion and new portal
1889
Historical Monument
1910
Restoration by Henri Rapine
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The church: list by 1889; The cemetery surrounding the church: inscription by order of 4 August 1943

Key figures

Vianne de Gontaut-Biron - Lordess of Montgaillard Heir of the castle, inspired by the name of Vianne.
Jourdain de l’Isle - Founder of the bastide Created Vianne in 1284.
Henri Rapine - Architect of Historical Monuments Directed the restoration of 1910.
Henri Feur - Bordeaux master glass Author of church stained glass windows.

Origin and history

The church of Saint Christophe de Vianne, built in the 12th century, was originally the Romanesque church of the village of Villelongue, dedicated to Our Lady and probably linked to a priory. This village then depended on the fief de Montgaillard, possession of the lords of Gontaut-Biron. The Vianne bastide was founded in 1284 by Jourdain de l'Isle, nephew of Vianne de Gontaut-Biron, through an act of trimming with Edward I of England, in tribute to his aunt. The early Romanesque church was enlarged in the 14th century by a western span and a new portal, while the old Romanesque portal was walled. A northern chapel was added at the same time.

In the 16th century, a sacristy was built, and works were attested in 1792 (foreword) and 1856 (paintings by Tarlas). The architect Henri Rapine led a major restoration in 1910, raising the walls and re-roofing. Ranked a Historical Monument in 1889, the church preserves Romanesque elements (five-span nave, elevated sanctuary, square bell tower) and stained glass windows of the Bordeaux master glassmaker Henri Feur. The adjacent cemetery, inscribed in 1943, houses medieval tombs with loggers discovered along the southern wall.

The building illustrates the architectural and historical evolution of the region, from its origin as a prioral church to its role in the Vianne bastide. The capitals of the 12th century, inspired by those of the Priory of Moirax, and subsequent modifications (ogival vaults, decorations) testify to its local importance. The religious of the Great Sauve settled there in 1395, marking a monastic phase before modern transformations.

External links