Souillac - Sainte-Marie

Souillac is another town, that I cannot pass, without stopping and visiting the former abbey-church. Legends tell, that the abbey was founded by Saint Eligius (Saint Eloi), advisor of Merovingian King Dagobert I. The abbey got destroyed by the Saracens, Charlemagne commissioned the reconstruction, that again ruined got by Norman invaders. Of course it got looted during the Wars of Religions, but existed upto the French Revolution.

The abbey-church, today serving the parish, got built in the 12th century. Inside this church are romanesque works of art, that are breathtaking. I had seen them already a couple of times, but I just had to see them again (and take more photos!).

During the Wars of Religions the complex carvings that once were on the outside of the church got removed and placed inside, to save them from iconoclastic vandals.

Next to the door (right) is the "Dancing Isaiah", further to the right the "Pilier de Souillac", probably once used as a trumeau. Similar pillars, populated with beasts, only exist in Moissac, Freising (Germany), Lund (Sweden) and Lucca (Italy).