Église Saint-Jean de Balerme

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

This small building, whose construction appears to date from the 11th century, is composed of a semi-circular apse, a nave slightly wider than the apse and two chapels added in the 15th century on the south façade. The apse, vaulted in slightly pointed barrel vault and oven vault, is decorated with five round-arch arcatures springing from engaged columns, surmounted by sculptured capitals representing scenes from the Old Testament. The triumphal arch is supported by two columns surmounted by capitals representing the Visitation, the Annunciation, Adam and Eve, David and the lions. A band decorated with billets marks the springing of the vaults. The nave and chapels are covered by a wooden ceiling, the vaults having been demolished. In the south-west corner of the nave, a spiral staircase allows access to the roof space. The western portal was remade in the 14th century, as was the porch-tower gable which terminates the façade.