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Origin and history

Saint Peter's Church in Vienna-en-Bessin, also known as the Saint Peter and Saint-Gorgon parish church, is a Catholic building located in Calvados, Normandy. It is surrounded by a cemetery housing 16th and 17th century tombs, reported by Arcisse de Caumont. Its construction began in the 11th century, with a Romanesque nave in opus spicatum and a characteristic bell tower. The Duke Guillaume offered the building to Saint-Pierre de Préaux Abbey, marking its religious importance in the Middle Ages.

The choir, dated the 13th or 14th century by Arcisse de Caumont, was partially rebuilt in the 18th century, as were the enlarged windows and the side walls taken over. A southern chapel and a sacristy were added at that time. The vaults of the choir and the restorations of the 19th century (triompheal arch, gate) transform the building, while grimaçant modillons and a billet cornice adorn the nave. The interior furniture, partially classified, bears witness to its rich heritage.

Classified as a Historical Monument in 1974, the church preserves Romanesque elements (portal adorned with zigzags and frets) and Gothic elements (old horse, capitals). The tower of the bell tower, on four levels, is crowned with a pyramid. The restorations of the 19th century, such as the reconstruction of the arrow in 1865 by architect Alphonse Delauney, preserve its authenticity. 18th century graffiti (1734) and traces of a missing porch complete its architectural history.

The sources, including the works of Arcisse de Caumont (Statistique monumentale du Calvados, 1857) and the studies of J.-J. Bertaux on Norman Romanesque art, underline his role in the dean of Creully. Modillons, typical of the region, and the 17th century panelling hiding the frame illustrate stylistic evolutions. Today, the church remains a major testimony of Norman religious art, open to visit the town of Vienna-en-Bessin.

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