Église prieurale Notre-Dame de Cunault

Gennes-Val-de-Loire (Cunault)

At Cunault, on the banks of the Loire, a large Romanesque priory church is known for its capitals. According to the Département de Maine-et-Loire, around 858–862 monks of the abbey of Saint-Philibert de Noirmoutier, fleeing the Normans, settled there with the body of Saint Philibert. This stay was the origin of the Benedictine priory, later attached to Saint-Philibert de Tournus. Tradition also evokes Saint Maxenceul, evangelist of the region, whose reliquary is preserved. The church was raised in several campaigns from the late 11th century to the late 12th century: bell tower in the late 11th, choir, false transept and part of the nave in the 12th, screen façade between 1170 and 1200. It has more than two hundred Romanesque capitals; those of the choir, around 1130–1150, show in particular the Carrying of the Cross and the Flagellation. The priory was suppressed in 1741; in 1754 the nave became the parish church. After Prosper Mérimée's visit in 1838, the building was protected and restored from 1842 to 1866 by Charles Joly-Leterme. The sources give 1840 and 1846 for the listing: to be verified.

Getting there: In the hamlet of Cunault, between Saumur and Angers; opening and visits to be checked with the tourist office. Coordinates: OpenStreetMap (Nominatim), consistent with Wikipedia (47.3295; −0.2007).

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound