Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
In the little town of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe is a remarkable abbey church that was founded during the Carolingian era.
The UNESCO-listed Abbaye de Saint-Savin is called the “Romanesque Sistine Chapel” because of its exceptional 11th- and 12th-century wall paintings. The assortment of murals representing the Biblical narrative is considered among the finest examples of medieval painting in France.
The most noteworthy works, which depict Old Testament stories from the Creation onwards, are found on the vaulting of the nave.
A superb view of the abbey church can be seen from the Pont-Vieux (Old Bridge) on the Gartempe River.
