Le Teil - Saint-Étienne de Mélas

A church is known in Mélas (now part of Le Teil), located at the Roman road connecting Lyon and Nîmes, since merovingien times. A noble lady named Fredegonde founded a nunnery in Mélas end of the 6th century, dedicated to Saint-Étienne and Saint Saturnin.

The church seen today is younger and consists out of three parts, that were built in different times.

The oldest, dated the the 9th/10th century, is an octogonal chapel, that could have been a baptistery or a burial chapel. It is not visible from this point of view.

The northern and the central aisle are, just as the two still existing apses and the tower, were erected within the 11th and 12th century, while the southern aisle (left) is an addition of the 19th century.