Carennac Travel Guide

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There are more examples of the art works in the church. Note again the archaic capitals and a wooden statue.

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The single aisle church has a typically dark Romanesque interior making photography difficult. The columns are topped by archaic carved capitals, not as detailed as the more advanced ones at Moissac. In a side area is a striking 16C Entombment group with two women supporting the Virgin, while two disciples hold the shroud and the Magdalene cries; Joseph pf Arimethia watches. A surprizing number of various statuary, basreliefs and other carvings are to be seen: a number of polychromed alabaster plaques looking like the 15C "mass produced" ones from Nottingham made of alabaster like those we saw at the Cluny in Paris (See Our Paris>Cluny Museum Tips) and a bas-relief stone carved reredos of the "Life of Christ"

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The church is Romanesque with a 12C doorway. It was a Benedictine Cluniac monastery at that time and it is not surprizing that at least one or more sculptor-masons were assigned here from the Toulouse-Moissac school to create this work. (An even earlier tympanum is at nearby Beaulieu and contemporary work to this is seen at Cahors). On this tympanum Christ is seen in Majesty, blessing the visitor, surrounded by the symbols of the Evangelists in the central panel. On the other 4 panels are the Apostles. The panels are held in place by a foliated arch and a flat lintel of sorts. These are encased in arches of stone blocks and pillars. The carving is essentially Archaic as is the assembly. Figured fragments are at the edges suggesting that a more decorated facade was planned.

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Don't miss visiting the church Eglise St Pierre in Carennac. It was built in the 11th century and is fashioned in the Roman Style.