Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Sainte-Croix church of Saint-Urcisse, classified as a Historical Monument, finds its origins in the 12th century with Romanesque architecture. The building was profoundly transformed in the late 15th century or early 16th century, with enlargements and structural changes. Inside, the glazed nave leads to a vaulted polygonal choir, adorned with carved caps and a key to the vault representing a blessed Christ. Two bas-reliefs, symbolizing the lion of Mark and the bull of Luke, as well as friezes of dragons and a dog (late 15th) decorate the triumphal arch in broken arch.

The current stained glass windows date back to the 19th century, adding a neo-Gothic touch to the whole. Recent surveys have revealed traces of ancient murals, testifying to past decorative richness. The church, fully protected since 2015, belongs to the commune and preserves Romanesque elements (nave, choir) mixed with flamboyant Gothic additions, illustrating its architectural evolution over nearly five centuries.

The triumphal arch, an important element of the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic periods, is particularly remarkable. Its carved decorations (dragons, dog) could evoke protective symbols or biblical references, typical of medieval religious art. The eight-district vault of the choir, with its worked caps, emphasizes the influence of the regional workshops of the Renaissance, while the New Aquitaine becomes an artistic crossroads between North and South.

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