Allaines-Mervilliers

Walking the Via Turonensis I had two books with me. One was a little booklet, telling me, where to turn left or right. The most important (absolut recommendable!) book was Anne Prache´s "Ile de France Romane".

Anne Prache mentions, that in the hamlet of Mervilliers is a former church with a remarkable tympanum. In found a large farm in Mervilliers, entered and tried to find anybody to ask. But there was nobody at home. This was private property and I did feel uneasy, walking around, knocking on doors and shouting "Allo" and "Coucou"......

I finally found a small wooden garden gate. I pushed it open, entered, turned around - and there was the tympanum.

Here is another total. Though the tympanum is very weatherad and eroded, some names can still be found. Near the knight and the squire are the names HERBERTUS and GUILERMUS. The letters left and right of the seated person in the center are X IEORGIUS (Saint George). Over God´s head stands RENBAUDUS.

The inscription of the banderole reads

HERBERTUS GUILERMUS SIMILITER CUNCE(SSIT) RENBAUDUS MILES EIS (EJUS) HERES MICHI C(ON)TULIT GAZAS P(RAE)SENTES UT HABERET FINE CARENTES

Herbertus and as well Guilermus gave/concedet as well as (their) heir knight Renbaudus me earthly treasures to receive treasures without end.

Well, the translation may not be very precise. The French website below goes into the details:


Here is a French website about the tympanum:
jfbradu.free.fr/mervilliers/index-mervilliers.htm