Allassac church

With its two 12th century Romanesque doorways and its fortified stair tower, Allassac church attracts many visitors. This sequence will show you its main features.

The original church existed here during the Merovingian era.
Todays’ edifice has two 12th century Romanesque doorways, which are the oldest parts of the church. The particularly lovely southern doorway is polylobed. Its decor is enhanced by the use of different types of sandstone with colours ranging from ochre yellow to Burgundy red.
It is decorated with sculpted capitals which represent griffins, greenery, a person being devoured by monsters and a man surrounded by vegetation.
This doorway is protected by a porch. On the cornice above the door, there are sculpted modillions with grimacing faces on them.
The wooden angels were added on during the 17th century.
The church has a peculiar fortified staircase tower, adjoining the bell tower. It dates back to the 14th century. The gatehouse up top is part of a defense system used during the Hundred Years War. However, it seems its role was more symbolic than military.
From the 14th to the 15th century, Allassac’s fellow lords had 5 family chapels built. They greatly enlarged the church to the north and to the south. Two of them form a fake transept on the 3rd and 4th rows. Two more are adjacent to either side of the choir. The 5th and last chapel is located in the first row, next to the southern doorway. The bay windows bring light to these chapels and their styles are both Gothic Flamboyant and Gothic Rayonnant. The church’s unique nave still has part of its 14th century stone vault, in the first row. In the other rows, it was replaced by wooden arches in the 17th and 19th centuries.

Other stages
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  • L’église d’Allassac

    With its two 12th century Romanesque doorways and its fortified stair tower, Allassac church attracts many visitors. This sequence will show you its main…

  • Les objets de l’église

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