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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Saint-Caprais church of Saint-Capraise-d'Eymet is a historical monument of Romanesque origin, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. It is characterized by an atypical architecture, with a central dome now devoid of its original bell tower, replaced by a modern structure at the entrance. The bedside, rounded in shape, is arched in cul-de-four and supported by six Romanesque columns with richly decorated capitals, representing various patterns like angels or a horseman on a horse with a human head. The pillars of the dome also carry sculptures, bearing a marked artistic know-how.

The nave of the church was subsequently remodeled, adopting crossovers of warheads that contrast with the original Romanesque style. A sacristy, attached to the choir, marries the semicircular form and ends in a square space. The choir itself, particularly high, is a remarkable architectural element. In 1948, the choir and span supporting the old bell tower were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by ministerial decree, highlighting their heritage value.

The building, owned by the municipality, illustrates medieval architectural developments, mixing Romanesque heritage and Gothic additions. Its present state reflects both structural transformations (such as the disappearance of the original bell tower) and partial preservations, particularly the carved elements of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The location of the church, in the village of Saint-Capraise-d'Eymet, makes it a local historic landmark in the Dordogne department, in New Aquitaine.

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