SAINT-SAVIN ABBEY
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The abbey of Saint-Savin is a Unesco treasure to be discovered with the family thanks to free, guided or immersive visits.
The murals in the Romanesque church (the largest in Europe) are a treasure trove of 11th-century art, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. To appreciate every detail, you have to look up! The entrance porch is dedicated to the cycle of the Apocalypse. The walls and vault of the upper gallery are decorated with a program dedicated to the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. The cradle in the nave depicts some 50 episodes from the Old Testament, with themes borrowed from the books of Genesis and Exodus. These include the famous Noah's Ark. The entire magnificent fresco covers 460 m², 17 metres high! With the self-guided tour, a touch-screen tablet is available to accompany you as you explore the site. You'll be able to see what life was like in the Middle Ages, and in particular the lives of the monks, but also the conditions under which the abbey was built and the political and religious environment in which it was founded. Stroll around the site at your leisure. Three itineraries are proposed (30 min, 1h, no time), the idea being to go at your own pace and where it interests you. So, using the numbers, position yourself and listen to the various anecdotes and other information. The tablet also features animated photos, 3D views, reconstructions, texts, sounds, testimonials from archaeologists and art historians, etc., to give you a better understanding of the various aspects of the site. For example, a reconstruction has been made of the moment when the frescoes were painted, immersing you in this particular atmosphere, alongside the craftsmen on their scaffolding. You can also visit the paintings in the crypt, which is closed for conservation purposes. Guided tours are available to take you on a complex journey through the paintings created by the monks. In the monastic building, a scenographic tour is available to discover life in an abbey, including the monks' cells, the refectory, the chapter house, the garden, the abbot's dwelling... During dramatized tours (at 3pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays during school vacations), visitors can follow the inventor of the hydraulic elevator, Félix Léon Edoux, or his wife Amélie, as they discover the abbey and its secrets. Let us take you on a journey through time. Night tours (Larcin à Saint-Savin) and events are also on the agenda for the vacation season.
L’accès à la tribune au-dessus du porche ne se fait qu’au cours d’une visite guidée. Elle porte également des fresques et offre une vue en hauteur sur la voûte.
La nef, en contrebas de 5 marches par rapport au narthex, est couverte d’une voute considérée au 11e siècle comme idéale en élévation et luminosité pour être couverte de fresques qui s’étendent sur plus de 400 m2. Le programme est basé sur l’Ancien Testament et les scènes n’ont pas toutes traversé les âges mais une grande partie est encore très lisible pour notre plus grand bonheur.
Le chœur et la crypte (non accessible) complètent le spectacle.
Pour bien apprécier, il vaut mieux se préparer à l’avance (il existe de bonnes descriptions sur internet) ou louer l’audioguide à l’accueil. Il est très bien fait et permet d’écouter les textes le nez en l’air.
a voir absolument
On suit notamment l'histoire de Cain et Abel, l'arche de Noé.
Dans la partie abbaye payante, il n'y a pas beaucoup de choses, si ce n'est plusieurs petites expositions intéressantes sur l'abbaye, l'art des fresques et la vie des moines.
Si on veut comprendre les fresque de l'abbatiale il faut le livret de visite, qui s'achète avec l'entrée du reste de l'abbaye.