Albignac - Notre Dame

A priory existed in Albignac, depending from the Benedictian abbey Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse 700kms (!) east in what is today Northern Italy. The monastery must have been important in the 11th century, as another priory existed 100 kms south in Catus.

In 1394 Cistercian nuns moved into the buildings, that all got lost. Just the large bell tower seen here remained from the Romanesque church, that after many alterations and renovations serves the parish.

This capital was part of the lost transept once. Here are two arguing "hydrocentaurs". They wear helmets and both have battleaxes in their hands. This may be just the artist´s imaginative idea, but it may as well be an "echo" of the Norman/Viking raids. Helmets and battleaxes show these are warriers. Vikings were feared and known for these weapons and they were bound to rivers (hydro) as they approached in longships, often decorated with dragonheads.