St Laon's Church

Résumé du document

This monument is an abbey and its church is of roman style. The St Laon abbey was built in the XI century and the church in 1021. A lord of the court of the Thouar's viscount ordered the first shrine. The other buildings were paid by the donations of the pilgrims. In the beginning the relic of St Laon, a bishop of Coutances in the V century, could be found in this shrine. Then it became too small for welcoming pilgrims so the lord decided to build the church of St Laon. The Middle Ages was a prosperous period for Thouars. The economic activities developed considerably so plenty of religious buildings could be built.

The initial roman building was composed of a nave. The church tower, built in the XII century, is the most evident mark of the Roman period. The sculpted capitals*, which adorn this church tower, are also good examples of this style. The interior capitals are decorated with lions or various plants that were themes that the roman sculptors particularly appreciated.

Extraits

[...] This image represents his burning love. Underneath are the abbey's coat of arms and on the bottom St Augustin's baptism by St Ambroise in Milan. The left part is dedicated to St Hilaire. The medallion represents two miracles accomplished by him. In the center he is chasing away the snakes that infested the island of Gallinard with his shepherd's stick. He stopped on this island on his way back from Orient to meet his disciple St Martin represented here as a roman soldier. [...]

[...] A gothic arrow completes the church tower. It was destroyed in 1711 during an earthquake. In the XVII century the choir pews were added as well as an altarpiece*. Capital decorated with lions The altarpiece The altarpiece is situated behind the altar. On the altarpiece of Thouars we can note that there is no paint or gold except on the statues and medallions. The three statues are made out of painted terra cotta. The Virgin dominates the whole altarpiece. On the right we can see St Augustin, offering his heart to the Christ. [...]

[...] The St Laon abbey was built in the XI century and the church in 1021. A lord of the court of the Thouar's viscount ordered the first shrine*. The other buildings were paid by the donations of the pilgrims. In the beginning the relic of St Laon, a bishop of Coutances in the V century, could be found in this shrine. Then it became too small for welcoming pilgrims so the lord decided to build the church of St Laon. [...]

[...] It was badly damaged during the religion wars and the Revolution. Between 1995 and 1997 Margaret's remains were found as well as well mural paintings of gothic style. We can still see the funerary liter with the princess's armorial bearings and a fresco representing St Genevieve holding a candle that a demon is trying to blow out and which an angel is lighting. Finally there is an entombment ordered by the princess. The Entombment Ordered by Margaret of Scotland, the sculpted group, made out of tufa stone, represents the entombment of the Christ. [...]

[...] Specimens from this period are quite rare; this is why it was added to the list of Historical Monuments in 1999. The instrument counts two manual keyboards and a pedal keyboard The choir In addition to Margaret's royal tomb, St Laon's church has several other sepulchres* of people close to the princess. On the left of the altar, in the choir is a recumbent figure* representing the abbot Nicolas Lecoq who obtained the right to bring back Margaret's body to Thouars. It was added to the list of Historical Monuments in 1902. [...]