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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de Castelviel, located in the Gironde department in New Aquitaine, is a Catholic religious building dating back to the twelfth century. Its apse and portal date from about 1130-1160, while major transformations took place in the fourteenth century. The church underwent significant restorations in 1867 and 1990-2000. It is distinguished by a slightly northerly orientation and an architecture marked by oblique foothills, a flat bedside concealing a staircase, and a west facade surmounted by a bell tower-wall.

The southern gate, considered the most beautiful example of Romanesque sculpture in Gironde, is decorated with five vestures and capitals illustrating moralizing scenes, such as the lascive dance, the beheading of Jean-Baptiste, or the work of the months related to the zodiac. These sculptures, inspired by Saintonge, combine religious symbols and allegories of capital sins. Inside, the church houses an Italian painting of 1610, a baroque altar of 1853, and two bells dated 1556 and 1994. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1908, it embodies a remarkable architectural and iconographic heritage.

The iconography of the portal, studied by historians like Léo Drouyn and C. Bougoux, reveals a rich medieval symbolism. The outer voussures represent the rope shooters (the allegory of the fight between Vertus and Vices), the seven capital sins, and a horny zodiac to seasonal agricultural work. Modillons and capitals, although partially eroded or restored in the 19th century, offer a unique testimony of beliefs and daily life in the Middle Ages. The church, owned by the commune, remains a place of worship and a heritage site open to the visit.

Architectural transformations include the demolition of a Gothic chapel in the 19th century and the addition of neo-Roman elements during restorations. The workworked structure of the nave, originally designed to remain visible, and the vaulted bedside in cradle underline the stylistic evolution of the building. The protected elements include the entire church, classified for its exceptional historical and artistic interest.

The site of Castelviel, crossed by the departmental road D128, places the church in the heart of the village, reflecting its central role in community life since the Middle Ages. Available sources, including Wikipedia, Monumentum, and Merimée bases, confirm its importance in the girondin religious and architectural heritage. The detailed descriptions of the portal and its sculptures make it a reference for the study of Romanesque art in Aquitaine.

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