Poitiers - Notre-Dame la Grande

Notre-Dame la Grande, a former collegiate church, was completed around 1150. This facade is a masterpiece of Romanesque art.

The church replaced an older one, known since the 9th century. The western facade is the result of an enlargement. In the first half of the 12th century, the older facade got removed - and two spans were added to the nave toward the west. The facade (sometimes called it a "frontage-screen") completed that enlargement. This facade is a brilliant example of the Romanesque "style poitevin". As the church went trough the Wars of Religions and the French Revolution many of the carvings are damaged.

Here is a more detailed view on that frieze.

Seen are the "Visitation", the "Nativity" and the "First Bath", watched by Joseph in his typical posture, his head is resting on his hand. Mary in childbed, ox and ass are seen over the crib. Baby Jesus smiles in the tub. The architecture of Bethlehem (?) reminds on fortified place. Note the two ("Greco-Roman") wrestlers just under Joseph and a very strange beast next to them.

Take a closer look to the piece of miniature architecture. For a while I thought, that this might stand for "Bethlehem", but it cannot. When it was created it was kind of very contemporary, as behind the protecting wall is a church - with a cross on the roof. Strange to see that next to the Nativity.