Visite guidée groupe - église Aulnay-de-Saintonge

The special guided tour for groups in Aulnay-de-Saintonge takes place in its magnificent Saint-Pierre church. This church, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela, is one of the major examples of 12th-century Romanesque architecture in our region, at the crossroads of Poitou and Saintonge influences. From the east chevet to the monumental west façade, this guided tour of the church of Aulnay-de-Saintonge will introduce you to the complexity of the architecture and the rich and innovative sculpted decoration of a building that was constructed in three stages, from around 1130 to 1150, influencing many buildings both near and far. The Church of Saint-Pierre in Aulnay-de-Saintonge, set in the serene surroundings of its old yew-tree cemetery, reveals an architectural ensemble with harmonious perspectives. Natural light particularly highlights the ornamental compositions, the modillions, the exceptionally rich western façade and the south portal with its arches decorated with rare finesse. Inside, everything seems to be in motion. A profusion of sculptures invades the capitals, like an immense stone book, awakening your imagination... Behind the church's chevet, you can stroll through the medieval-inspired garden with its geometric plots of vegetable and medicinal plants, alongside contemporary replicas of sarcophagi above the remains of older tombs. A detour to the town centre is also a must to discover part of the medieval keep and the 17th-century dovecote.