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Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre de Parçay-sur-Vienne, built in the 12th century in a Romanesque style, rises on the remains of a monastery attested from the 6th to the 6th century, then from an abbey mentioned in 968 or 975, possibly destroyed by the Normans. Given to the abbey of Marmoutier by Archambault de Sully (Archbishop of Tours) around 991-1000, it became a dependency of the abbey of Méobecq until 1674, the date of its attachment to the bishopric of Quebec. The western gate, adorned with symbolic sculptures (the eagle of St John, the bull of St Luke) and 33 "grotesque" bearded heads, is considered one of the most remarkable of Touraine.

In the 15th century, the portal was modified: its access was reduced and surmounted by a tympanum. The 16th century saw the transformation of the bell tower, assistant of a belfry, and the reshaping of the cross of the transept. In 1695, the wall and vault of the north arm were demolished to extend the church of a chapel. After a fire of the bell tower in the 18th century, it was rebuilt in 1747, as evidenced by the inscription "AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM AN. 1747" engraved on its vault.

Ranked a historic monument in 1930, the church underwent three restoration campaigns in the 19th century, the first (1868) of which was led by architect Gustave Guérin, who restored the apsidioles and vaulted arms of the transept. In 1892, the sacristy was completely rebuilt, obstructing a bay of southern absidiole. A chair was added in 1893, and the western gate was restored in 1991. The building, owned by the commune, preserves remarkable furniture, including two Christ on the cross (XVI and XVIII centuries) and an 18th century oak cabinet.

Architecturally, the church adopts a plan in Latin cross oriented east-west, with a unique nave originally planned to be vaulted (columns engaged without capitals) but finally carpented. The choir, with two spans, is illuminated by five bays in the middle of the hanger. The arms of the transept, vaulted in a brick cradle, contrast with the nave and choir covered with false arched arches. The bell tower, rectangular and with a roof in the pavilion, dominates the cross of the transept.

The western portal (XII century) is a sculptural masterpiece: three archvolts are based on columns with historic capitals (siren, Samson riding a lion), while the central yousure alternates bearded heads, rinceaux and plant motifs. Above, a fish scale apparatus highlighted by a modillon slat precedes a pinion pierced by a curved bay. Casimir Chevalier (1867) described him as "the first rank of works of the same kind in Touraine".

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