Paris1972-Versailles2003

I was in my road warrior campaign in the Loire valley and took a side step into the Nouvelle Aquitaine region to stop by  Loudun. It goes without saying the choices are endless in my belle France. Sometimes difficult to choose where to go next….We came upon a pretty town and an impressive church I heard about it and wanted to visit! Therefore, this is my take using older pictures not in my blog on the Church Saint Pierre du Marché of Loudun !!! Briefly, Loudun is located in the Vienne department no 86 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region Hope you enjoy the post as I,

The Church Saint-Pierre du Marché, built under Philippe II Auguste.   From the construction of Philippe Auguste, in 1214, near the square where “the crush of meat” stood, today is the Place de la Bouffeterie, only the sanctuary and the transept with the four superb and powerful pillars on which the vaults rest are left from this period. This  Church Saint Pierre du Marché was looted and ransacked during the Hundred Years War. After this troubled period, the nave was built in the purest ogival style.  As soon as construction was completed, the Huguenots ransacked the Church Saint Pierre du Marché and the particularly vulnerable carvings were mutilated.  The 1701 bell tower was in danger of collapsing. It was simply chained. And it was only in 1931 that it was demolished stone by stone and reassembled in its primitive aspect.  During the French revolution, the church became a temple of reason and then fodder park.

The Church Saint Pierre du Marché is made up of a rectangle, finished by a bedside, and divided into three naves parallel to the axis. The triangular pediment is deprived of the bas-reliefs which used to adorned the eardrum. The main nave is covered with a full ceiling holder holding the place of the vault. The quadrangular tower almost occupies the middle of the collateral on the right. It has tinkering at her angles and is surmounted by a modern masonry arrow. It is pierced with semicircular windows. The arrow is lit by eight rectangular windows. Two pillars each counter the faces of the tower and rise to its coronation.

The aspect of the portal of the Church Saint Pierre du Marché recalls a very high triumphal arch, very harmonious in its proportions. It is richly decorated with elegant carvings. The portal, in the semicircular, presents concentric areas loaded with niches, cans with statuettes, framed rosettes, angels, statues engaged almost in the round .The renovated Renaissance portal invites you to discover the interior ; it was restored in 1987. As soon as the southern portal is entry, we see the statues of Cécile with her organ, Hilaire of a priest with the palm of martyr. From the northern collateral is the copy, in bronze, of stone sitting to the Vatican. Further on we have Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and at the end of the south collateral Notre Dame de Lourdes. In the northern collateral we will stop in front of the statue (15C) of Saint Adelelmus , in polychrome wood, born in Loudun, follows the career of arms, goes on pilgrimage to Rome, is received as a monk at the Chaise-Dieu Abbey by the abbot and founder Saint Robert (+ 1067). He is called by the Constance of Burgundy ,daughter of Duke Robert I of Burgundy and Helie de Semur-en-Brionnais. She was queen of Castile and León by her marriage to Alfonso VI of León and Castile to takes care of the hospital Saint-Jean at the gates of Burgos, The Saint-Jean monastery is founded. .After having confessed and having received the last sacraments from the hands of the bishop of Pamplona, he asked to be taken to the Chapel of San Juan. He died on January 30, 1097. The abbot’s body was buried in the hermitage of San Juan Evangelista in a stone sarcophagus. Alfonso VII, thirty years after the death of the saint, ordered to engrave on a medal, alongside his imperial image, the image of Saint Adelelmus, as testimony of his devotion to such a glorious saint. He is the patron Saint of Burgos (Spain)

During a pilgrimage to Compostela, Father Garreau, parish priest of the Church Saint-Pierre du-Marché, reports a relic of Adelelmus, which will then be chosen as patron of the city of Loudun in northern collateral are kept the recumbent (headless) of a priest, from 12C , a painting of the martyrdom of Jean-Charles Cornay, born in Loudun, missionary at Tonkin , dead beheaded in 1837, at 28 years old, Paris 1901., In the southern collateral of the choir is a painted wood of Guy Chartier in 2014, in tribute to Father Babouard, to Loudun, died in Esnes, (Marne 51 ) in the trenches on May 7, 1916. The poet’s epitaph plate Scévole de Sainte-Marthe (+ 1623) has disappeared In the north wall are embedded fragments of epitaphs, one date of 1623. Four paintings of the 17C are preserved in the sacristy. The Stations of the Cross is made of great high reliefs polychrome. The war memorials of the two world wars are fixed to the west wall. The baptismal font, with oval tank, are in front of the door in the left collateral. The Church Saint Pierre du Marché represents an important page in the rich history of Loudun, Saint Alléaume and Jean-Charles Cornay (canonized in 1988) and Urban Grandier who was priest, and in the scene of Sainte-Marthe, You can see a remarkable stained glass window which represents the miracle of oats. Urbain Grandier, a priest accused of witchcraft, officiated here. He was burned in the public square in 1634. The instrumental part of the organ, date from 1840, of which the Daublaine and Calllinet were the factors

The city of Loudun and the Church Saint Pierre du marché: https://www.ville-loudun.fr/decouvrir-loudun-1/monuments-loudun/eglise-saint-pierre-du-marche-et-son-portail-renaissance-loudun

The Loudun tourist office on its other heritage: https://www.tourisme-loudunais.com/a-voir-a-faire/decouvrir/

There you go folks, another dandy town ,and beautiful church ,this is Loudun worth the detour me think. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Church Saint Pierre of Loudun as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!