Villers-Saint-Paul - Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul

"Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" is not mentioned in any written document before the 13th century. Most historians agree, that the church was built not earlier than in the first half of the 12th century. About a century later, the Romanesque transept and choir got demolished - and replaced by the large Gothic structure, seen here. The tower was erected within the 13th century.

The church was added to the list of "monuments historique" already in 1862, but the restoration process started end of the 19th century.

The church was added to the list of "monuments historique" already in 1862, but the restoration process started end of the 19th century. Of course a church like this needs perpetual care.

The walls of the nave are well conserved. They are decorated between the corbels with very unusual reliefs. These carvings were well protected under the roof and are not weathered. Some of them are fantastic and very mysterious.

A man and an owl. The mean has a strange kind of beard, a beard like that earned Danish King Sven I, the name "Sweyn Forkbeard" (" à la barbe fourchue"). But there are actually two men. Note the legs. The bodies are seen in profile - and mirror-symmetrically the bodies form the man, we see.