Eglise Saint-Victor

Perched on its rocky promontory, the church of Saint-Victor-la-Rivière was built (for its main part) in the 12th century. This Romanesque edifice of modest dimensions (20 meters in length) was built according to an elementary plan (nave, transept and choir), but unlike some neighboring churches, its composition and construction show(…)

Perched on its rocky promontory, the church of Saint-Victor-la-Rivière was built (for its main part) in the 12th century. This Romanesque edifice of modest dimensions (20 meters in length) was built according to an elementary plan (nave, transept and choir), but unlike some neighboring churches, its composition and construction show as much skill as care.

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Inside, with the same sober elegance, the three parts making up the edifice are clearly structured by the three arches separating them, each of a different height, as are their barrel vaults.
In the sanctuary, the distribution of space is harmonious, with a hemicycle decorated with a row of arcatures, three larger ones separated by two smaller ones, resting on six colonettes.
At Saint-Victor, there’s very little sculpture, just two water-leaf capitals on the nave columns and six smaller capitals decorated with flat leaves in the sanctuary.
A 12th-century baptismal font is located near the entrance door.
The beautiful altar stone, also dating from the 12th century, was rediscovered during restoration work.

Two rib-vaulted bays were added in the 15th century.
In the 16th century, another chapel and the access tower to the bell tower were added.
In 1962, the church was listed on the Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques.
Between 1989 and 2000, major restoration work was carried out, including the complete repair of the roof and external wall joints, restoration of the walled-in windows and refurbishment of the interior. The painted decorations of the 12th, 14th and 17th centuries were restored.