Église Saint-Silvain

English translation

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History

The primitive monument of the 13th century was rectangular. A flat chevet terminated three naves of three bays each, of oblong plan in the direction of length. A fourth bay of the same dimension as the others, was narrowed at the centre by a sort of inner narthex supporting the bell tower. In front, a small portal with three rolls in pointed arch rests on detached columns with crocket and figurine capitals. The engaged columns receiving the springing of the vault ribs have shafts with almond section with sharp edge to the front. The three bays of the choir and naves were destroyed at the end of the 16th century by the Huguenots. The church was restored from 1624 to 1665, in the spirit of the Gothic style. Six large cylindrical columns replaced the cruciform piers of the 13th century. The vault ribs, decorated with a roll moulding with sharp edge from the late 13th century, were re-employed and connected to the shafts but, being insufficient, they alternate with ribs of simple square section. Attempts at Gothic restoration in the 16th century are rare, and this is one of the most interesting examples.