Church of Our Lady à Colombiers dans la Vienne

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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de Colombiers, located in the Vienne department in New Aquitaine, presents an architecture combining Romanesque and Gothic styles. Built mainly in the 4th quarter of the 12th century, it was redesigned in the 15th century, as evidenced by elements such as the flamboyant south window or the arch of the square span beneath the bell tower. Its plan consists of a single nave of four vaulted spans on cross of warheads, a square span under the bell tower, a straight span of choir, and an apse in hemicycle adorned with a continuous arching. The capitals, carved from acanthe leaves or fantastic animals, as well as the columns of windows and arches, reflect remarkable artistic know-how for the time.

The apse houses an Annunciation in high relief, probably dating from the thirteenth century, representing the real-sized angel Gabriel and the Virgin. This work, integrated into blind archatures, illustrates the iconographic importance of the building. The walls of the nave, older than those of the apse, suggest an earlier construction campaign, while the interior refurbishing of the ship in the 15th century reveals subsequent stylistic adaptations. The square span, supporting the bell tower, is bounded by double-roll arches, and its vault, redone in the 15th century, confirms the late medieval transformations.

Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 17 June 1926, the church is now owned by the municipality of Colombiers. Its state of conservation and its architectural details make it a valuable testimony to the evolution of construction techniques between the Middle Central Ages and the end of the medieval period. The location, although documented (2 Route des Lavoirs, 86490 Colombiers), enjoys a geographical accuracy deemed satisfactory a priori (note 6/10), allowing a clear identification of the site.

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