Église Saint-Symphorien - Grézac, France
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member pmaupin
N 45° 36.183 W 000° 50.517
30T E 668292 N 5052210
[EN] The essential heritage of Grezac is the Saint Symphorien church which depended on the abbey of Saint-Europe. [FR] Le patrimoine essentiel de Grézac est l'église Saint Symphorien qui dépendait de l'abbaye de Saint-Europe.
Waymark Code: WM11QC5
Location: Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Date Posted: 12/02/2019
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member lumbricus
Views: 6

"The church of Saint-Symphorien de Crézac, which depended on the abbey of Saint-Europe, was built in the 12th century.From the Romanesque period it remains unfortunately only the northern apse.

The rest of the building dates from the 14th century. The decoration of this Romanesque apse is remarkable: one can admire in particular beautiful capitals intertwined and foliage.

While its simple plan, the church is original in both design and decoration. Under the right apse is a large crypt-ossuary whose vaults are supported on benches arranged along the walls of the room and rise five meters high to fall in the center on a column. The latter has a capital carved heads of monsters and faces grimacing. At the start of the vaults of ogives, very beautiful cul-de-lamp and corner columns are carved with human face or floral motifs.

The facade, whose iconographic organization is not original, is composed of plated reliefs. One of them describes four characters who evoke the condemnation of Saint-Symphorien to martyrdom. The latter was beheaded. On another, we recognize a Sagittarius brandishing his bow and chasing a deer. A third evokes two episodes of the well-known fable of the Fox and the Stork, found on two capitals on the south facade of the church of Cozes.

The interior of the building is particularly surprising the north-west corner which houses a plaster high relief probably dating from the nineteenth century. All the characters who take part in the scene of the baptism of Christ are represented almost life-size. "

Sources : The Church

Photo goes Here Photo goes Here

" L’église Saint-Symphorien de Crézac, qui dépendait de l’abbaye de Saint-Europe, fut bâtie au XIIe siècle. De l’époque romane il ne subsiste malheureusement que l’abside nord.

Le reste de l’édifice date du XIVe siècle. La décoration de cette abside romane est remarquable : on peut y admirer notamment de très beaux chapiteaux en entrelacs et feuillages.

Alors que son plan simple, l’église est originale tant dans sa conception que dans sa décoration. Sous l’abside droite est conservée une vaste crypte-ossuaire dont les voûtes s’appuient sur des banquettes disposées le long des murs de la salle et s’élèvent à cinq mètres de haut pour retomber au centre sur une colonne. Cette dernière porte un chapiteau sculpté de têtes de monstres et de visages grimaçants. Au départ des voûtes d’ogives, de très beaux cul-de-lampe et colonnettes d’angle sont sculptés de face humaine ou de motifs floraux.

La façade, dont l’organisation iconographique n’est pas d’origine, est composée de reliefs plaqués. L’un d’eux décrit quatre personnages qui évoquent la condamnation de Saint-Symphorien au martyre. Ce dernier fut décapité. Sur un autre, on reconnaît un Sagittaire brandissant son arc et pourchassant un cerf. Un troisième évoque deux épisodes de la fable bien connue du Renard et de la Cigogne, que l’on retrouve sur deux chapiteaux sur la façade sud de l’église de Cozes.

L’intérieur de l’édifice est surprenant notamment l’angle nord-ouest qui abrite un haut-relief en plâtre datant vraisemblablement du XIXe siècle. Tous les personnages qui prennent part à la scène du baptême du Christ sont représentés quasiment grandeur nature. "

Sources : L’Eglise

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1199

Age of Church building determined by?: Church website

If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Catholic

If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Sunday

Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: 11:00 AM

Street address of Church:
Place de l'Église
Grézac, Charente-Maritime France
17120


Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]

Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]

If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed

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pmaupin visited Église Saint-Symphorien - Grézac, France 07/25/2015 pmaupin visited it