Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Georges de Faye-la-Vieuse, located in the department of Indre-et-Loire in the Centre-Val de Loire region, is a former collegiate founded in the 12th century. It replaces a first modest construction erected in 1039 by Nivée, wife of Aymery I of Loudun. The building, marked by the Wars of Religion (destroyed in 1562 and 1593), preserves remarkable Romanesque elements, such as a walk-through and carved capitals depicting biblical or medieval scenes. Its 11th century crypt, exceptional in its dimensions (15 m x 11 m), houses historic capitals evoking episodes such as the adoration of the Magi or horsemen's battles.

Church architecture, although restored in the 19th century – sometimes in a questionable way – has unique features. Two side passages connect the nave to the crucifixes, while the choir and the cul-de-four abside are surrounded by three radiant chapels. The bell tower, located at the cross of the transept, combines blind arches in broken arches and full-cindered bays. Ranked a historic monument in 1931, the church thus combines medieval heritage and modern transformations, while sheltering contemporary glass windows signed by Jean Mauret.

The Collège Saint-Georges illustrates the evolution of religious and architectural practices in Touraine. Founded as a place of worship and local power in the Middle Ages, it reflects the destructions associated with the religious conflicts of the sixteenth century, then the sometimes heavy restorations of the nineteenth century. Its status as a collegiate body, which has now disappeared, recalls its past role in the community and spiritual life of Faye-la-Vineuse, between seigneurial influence (Loudun family) and regional artistic heritage.

External links