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Norman Churches |
Norman Art spread across the whole region of Vic-Bilh thanks to a great number of churches of the 12th century.
These churches often have sculpted decorations, which are not very pervasive but of quality, on capitals, window frames and on portals.
Vegetal decorations quite simply join in the Norman design.
Capitals present a huge thematic diversity : animals, human figures, bible scenes…
The density of the Monograms of Christ on the churches gates, is particularly high in Vic-Bilh. Round-shaped sculpted decorations, symbolize the monograms of Christ and they are, before everything, evidence of the popular art.
“Their sculpted, refined and original decorations show all the vim of a Gascon Norman art, sprang from Languedoc, Navarrian and Aragon influences.” Jean-Louis Lassère.
Tour suggestions :
Diusse, Aubous, Mont-Disse, Aydie, Arroses, Saint Jean Poudge, Taron, Burosse-Mendousse, Aurions-Idernes, Lasserre, Monpezat, Lannecaube, Lalongue, Escures, Sévignacq, Simacourbe, Maspie-Juillacq, Sansons-lion, Luc-Armau, Sedze-Maubecq.
Books dealing with Norman art, available at the tourist office in Lembeye :
- Balades romanes en Béarn et Soule, Jean-Louis Lassère, éditions Marrimpouey, 2005 This guidebook presents 82 Norman edifices from Béarn and Soule, through about ten itineraries covering these two regions. It is illustrated with Claude Rembert’s colour photographs and with Elisabeth Rembert’s maps, and it has at last a glossary with all the specific Norman art terms. There is a monograph for each church, which gives information to house guests about the historic and the architecture proper to each one of them. |
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- Eglises Romanes en Vic-Bilh, Amis des Eglises Anciennes du Béarn, 2003 These sanctuaries rose up since the 11th century in Bigbilium, testify the prodigious impulse of religious faith of the year 1 000. |
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