Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Seurin, located in Artigues-près-Bordeaux en Gironde, is a religious building dating back to the 11th century, although a mutilated Merovingian capital (Vth-VIth century) suggests an earlier occupation. The apse and the walls of the nave, built in stone, date from the 12th century, with additions such as circular columns and columns windows. A cul-de-four vault and carved capitals adorn the bedside, while a fortified porch is added in the 13th or 14th century.

In the 18th century, the church fell into ruins before being restored in the 19th century, with the addition of a square bell tower and a new porch. Its sculpted decoration, concentrated in the apse, includes stylized modillons, fantastic animals (bicorporeal fauves, mermaid fish) and secular scenes (dancers, musicians). These patterns recall those of the Church of St.Saturnin in Camarsac, suggesting a common workshop. The building was listed as a Historic Monument in 1925.

The modern transformation of the church is the work of parish priest Jean Puyo (arrived in 1951), who, together with Father Maurice Moullet and local artisans, restores the place in the Romanesque spirit. The contemporary stained glass (1952-1954) was signed by Yoki (Emile Aebischer). The furniture is limited to a merovingian bentier, a stone altar, a Virgin with the Child and a Romanesque sarcophagus under the porch.

The interior capitals illustrate a variety of themes: strippers (festive characters playing old or dancing), leaf motifs symbolizing human instincts, and evil masks. The axial window of the bedside, close to the altar, combines a laughing siren holding a bird and a reptile, evoking a mystical symbolism. These elements reflect the animalist repertoire novel girondin.

The church, a communal property, is located in the village of Betailhe. His cemetery attests to his central role in local life. Sources indicate a priori satisfactory location accuracy (level 6/10), with GPS coordinates associated with the official postal address (33370 Artigues-près-Bordeaux).

External links