Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
Romanesque church with remarkable 11th- and 12th-century murals.
The Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe is a Roman Catholic church located in Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, in Poitou, France. It is a Romanesque church begun in the mid-11th century, renowned for its extensive and well-preserved 11th- and 12th-century murals. Often called the 'Romanesque Sistine Chapel,' it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
- Location
- Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, Poitou, France
- Type
- Roman Catholic church
- Architectural style
- Romanesque
- Construction start
- mid-11th century (rebuilding began 1023)
- Known for
- 11th- and 12th-century murals; 'Romanesque Sistine Chapel'
- Unesco designation
- 1983
Lore & Background
The abbey was traditionally founded under Carolingian patronage, though its early history remains obscure. Saint Benoît d'Aniane was a later reformer, not the founder under Charlemagne. The church was rebuilt starting in 1023. The paintings in the main church are believed to have been painted between 1095 and 1115. The cruciform church carries a square tower over its crossing; the transept was built first, then the choir with its ambulatory and five radial chapels in the polygonal apse. Subsequent campaigns added three bays of the nave, the bell tower and its porch, and finally the last six bays of the nave. The bell tower is finished by a fine stone spire about 40 meters high, added in the 14th century and restored in the 19th century; the total height including the tower is approximately 80 meters.
Reader's Guide
The Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe is significant for its extensive cycle of Romanesque murals, which survive in remarkable condition. Nearly all parts of the church are covered in painted murals depicting scenes from across the Bible: the doorway shows the Apocalypse, the gallery holds scenes from the Passion of Christ, the choir and transept piers display images of saints, and the vault illustrates scenes from Genesis and Exodus. Below the church, the crypt of the martyr brothers St Savin and St Cyprian is decorated with frescos of their lives. The paintings served an educational purpose, designed to be intelligible from ground level, with prominent outlines and broad areas of color. The stylistic tendencies follow the Angevin style, characterized by linear designs, flatness, and color silhouettes to enhance contrast. The colors remain impressively vibrant, offering a glimpse of the colored surfaces of sculptures and other period paintings now lost. The church is often referred to as the 'Romanesque Sistine Chapel' and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Did You Know?
- The murals on the vault of the porch describe the Apocalypse.
- The crypt below the church is decorated with frescos depicting scenes from the lives of St Savin and St Cyprian.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe?
It is a Roman Catholic church of Romanesque design situated in the village of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe in the Poitou region of France. The current structure was rebuilt beginning in 1023, making it a product of the mid-11th century.
Why do people call it the 'Romanesque Sistine Chapel'?
The nickname reflects the extraordinary density and quality of its painted murals, which cover the interior walls and vaults from the 11th and 12th centuries. These frescoes are widely regarded as among the finest surviving examples of Romanesque religious art in Europe.
When was the Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe built?
Rebuilding of the church started in 1023, placing its construction firmly in the mid-11th century. The murals that now adorn its interior were added throughout the 11th and 12th centuries.
What makes the murals at Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe so remarkable?
They represent one of the most extensive and best-preserved collections of Romanesque wall paintings anywhere in the world. The images cover nearly every surface of the nave and apse, depicting biblical scenes and symbolic figures in vivid color.
When did Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe receive UNESCO World Heritage status?
The church was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The designation recognized its outstanding murals as a masterpiece of Romanesque artistic achievement.
More in World Heritage Sites in France 1-24
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