In Poitiers, like in every good French town, there are churches. We visited two, this was the first, Notre Dame La Grande. The churches beautiful façade had all sorts of intricate carvings, and the stained glass windows were shinning wonderfully in the, finally, sunny daylight.
Built in the later half of the 11th century, the inside is highly Romanesque, with high ceilings and rounded pillars shooting up into it. The ceiling is rounded like a barrel with only arcs action as support. In other more flamboyantly Gothic churches, the ceilings are crisscrossed with supports.
Private vaults shoot off from the main chapel, one of which was built by the Grand Seneschal of Poitou Yvon, commonly refered to as "the Insane." He was buried at this church as well. Unfortunately I can't find anymore information about him, so he remains a mystery to me. I feel like there is a very interesting story around anyone given the title "the Insane," but like most of the statues that used to adorn this church, the Revolution destroyed any way of telling who or what he did.
There were beautiful stained glass at Notre Dame La Grande. The one on the left depicts the Virgin Mary, as she is very highly revered to all Catholics and especially to this church. It is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to a group of English soldiers that were intending to attack Poitiers, when she appeared the soldiers killed each other and fled, saving the town.
The one on the right is Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc). It was in Poitiers that Joan was questioned by French priests. Although the record was also destroyed in the Revolution, it is said that the priests agreed that she was speaking with God, and approved her practice.
A huge organ sat in the church and provided it with music.
Like most Romanesque churches, the columns and walls were painted. The Fresco's have survived a remarkable amount of time, and restoration on them continues to this day.
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