Eglise Saint-Pierre de Saumur, Saumur

Nothing special

Very beautiful church with a fascinating history. During the visit one can observe the evolution of the building since its foundation at the end of the 12th century until the last additions of the 17th century, this is what in my opinion makes the particularity and the particular interest of the St Peter's Church.

Wonderful place in the city center. Crush on the statue of Archangel Mickaël 🫶 the size columns are also incredible and the sublime barley. Dare to go there, it's worth the detour!

A church whose construction began at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, the mixture of styles testifies to its history. Outside, the Romanesque style of the apse, the chevet, the arms of the transept and the bell tower, marks the first construction campaign. Inside, the vault of the choir shows a slight bulge, a sign of the arrival of the Gothic, we are at a pivotal period, the transition from one style to another is done gradually. The single nave, added in the 13th century, is in the Gothic style, two chapels were built in the 16th and 17th centuries, borrowing from the Renaissance style. A flamboyant gothic nave houses a remarkable 15th century pieta. But in 1674, the Gothic facade collapsed, a consequence of insufficient foundations. After taking over the latter, it was rebuilt scrupulously respecting the values ​​of symmetry of the classical style in vogue at that time, also adhering to the spirit of the Catholic Reformation or Counter-Reformation of the 16th century. The result is the appearance on Place Sait-Pierre of an impressive building, the facade of which lacks the usual decorations of Romanesque or Gothic buildings. Finally, the pretty twisted spire in the frame, dates only from the 18th century. The church did not have one until this period.

This beautiful building is magnificent and not only due to the restoration between 2008 and 2016. Its construction took place in several stages from the end of the 12th to the 16th century, the facade was rebuilt in 1675. Beautiful stained glass windows to admire and an organ that we would have liked to hear.