In Parthenay-le-Vieux, an old settlement located southwest of today’s town of Parthenay, there stood a church which, according to tradition, was founded by Simon I, Lord of Parthenay (11th century), who vowed to build it after the accidental death of a child during a hunt. Shortly afterwards, in 1092, his sons and successors, Gelduin and Ebbon, donated the church to the Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu (Haute-Loire, Auvergne).
The abbey established a priory there with a community of nine members. From that point, the reconstruction of the church began, and a donation made in 1119 to support the building works is documented. By 1278, the site is mentioned as a parish church. In 1562 and 1568, it suffered damage during the Wars of Religion. With the Revolution, the church was closed and left abandoned until the mid-19th century, when it was protected, and restoration work began in the latter half of that century.
Today, the Romanesque church is preserved, with three naves and five bays, and a transept. The chevet features three apses opening onto the crossing. The façade stands out for its remarkable sculptural decoration, including a prominent figure of a knight. Remains of the chapter house doorway also survive.
Relief that supposedly evokes the founding tradition
Facade of the chapter house
Capitals of the chapter house
Schematic plan of the church
Illustration from La Gâtine historique et monumentale (1876)
Illustration from La Gâtine historique et monumentale (1876)
Illustration from La Gâtine historique et monumentale (1876)
Illustration from La Gâtine historique et monumentale (1876)
Illustration from La Gâtine historique et monumentale (1876)
Illustration from Monumens religieux, militaires et civils du Poitou (1843)
- ARNAULD, Charles (1843). Deux-Sèvres. Première série : monumens religieux, militaires et civils du Poitou. Niort: Robin
- BRIQUET, M. (1840). Statistique monumentale de la ville de Parthenay. Mémoires de la Société de statistique du département des Deux-Sèvres, vol. 4
- COLLE, Jean-Robert (1946). En Gâtine. Niort: Vieux Marais
- DILLANGE, Michel (1976). Vendée romane. La nuit des temps, 44. Zodiaque
- LABANDE-MAIFERT, Yvonne (1957). Poitou roman. La nuit des temps, 5. Zodiaque
- LEDAIN, Bélisaire (1858). Histoire de la ville de Parthenay, de ses anciens seigneurs et de la Gâtine du Poitou. París: Durand
- LEDAIN, Bélisaire (1876). La Gâtine historique et monumentale. París: Claye
- MAXWELL, Robert A. (2004). Parthenay-le-Vieux, église Saint-Pierre. Congrès archéologique de France, 159e session, 2001, Deux-Sèvres. Société française d’archéologie
Parthenay-le-Vieux is located southwest of Parthenay, between Niort and Thouars