Eglise de Blaison
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise de Blaison, located in Blaison-Gohier (Maine-et-Loire), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Blaison-Gohier, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.4001, -0.3706
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00108975
Nestled in the heart of the Val d'Anjou, Blaison Church displays a simple Romanesque and Gothic elegance, a rare testament to the unspoilt medieval spirituality found on the banks of the Loire.
History
The church of Blaison-Gohier is one of those discreet gems hidden in the Anjou bocage, just a few leagues from the great châteaux of the Loire. Built between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, it embodies the transition between the late Romanesque and the early Gothic boldness that spread from Anjou from the end of the twelfth century. Its classification as a historic monument in 1914 testifies to the exceptional value that architects and historians have recognised in it for over a century. What sets the building apart is the coherence of its built volume, preserved from the excessive alterations that disfigured so many French rural churches in the 19th century. Attentive visitors will discover the semi-circular arches characteristic of Anjou Romanesque alongside the first domed vaults, and even the beginnings of Plantagenet Gothic, the particular style developed under the Counts of Anjou that made the entire region architecturally unique. The interior is an invitation to quiet contemplation: the light filtering through the narrow windows creates an atmosphere of contemplation associated with the great abbeys. The sculpted capitals, the well-proportioned nave and the remains of painted decorations are reminders that this church was not a simple country oratory, but a building with definite means and ambitions. The natural setting adds to the charm of the visit. Blaison-Gohier, a peaceful village in the Maine-et-Loire region, is surrounded by vineyards and meadows along the banks of the River Authion. The church often rises above the village, in the silence of the old stones that the Loire wind blows through, offering photographers and heritage lovers a composition of rare authenticity. This monument is just as much a place for lovers of medieval architecture as it is for walkers crossing the Anjou region: a stopover of just a few minutes is all it takes to feel its soul, but the more inquisitive will want to take the time to explore every nook and cranny, from the entrance porch to the chevet.
Architecture
The church at Blaison is a representative example of rural religious architecture in the Val d'Anjou in the 12th and 13th centuries, at the crossroads between Romanesque and Gothic. Its sober silhouette, typical of rural parishes of this period, is made up of a central nave probably flanked by aisles or a single nave with an elongated plan, typical of small Anjou parishes, topped by a bell tower or massive tower that marks the verticality of the whole. The masons probably used tuffeau, the white and slightly golden limestone quarried from the cliffs of the Loire Valley, the material of choice for builders in Anjou. The exterior walls are typical of the late Romanesque style, with flat buttresses, sculpted modillions under the cornice, and round-arched windows with carefully-crafted reveals. The bell tower, whose squat shape anchors the building in its terroir, may have geminated bays with colonnettes - a common motif in 12th-century Anjou. Inside, the space is governed by the sobriety typical of medieval parish buildings, far removed from the luxury of abbeys. The capitals of the columns probably bear decorations of foliage, scrolls or stylised figures, discreet evidence of the talent of local illustrators. The vaults, if they survive in their original form, may have the curved profile characteristic of the Anjou Gothic style, giving the nave a surprisingly large appearance for a village church. Vestiges of early polychrome decoration may have survived on some of the walls, further enhancing the interpretation of this authentic medieval space.
Related Figures
Foulques Nerra, comte d'Anjou (972-1040) — grand bâtisseur d'églises et de châteaux en Anjou, dont l'impulsion patrona la christianisation du territoireGeoffroy Plantagenêt (1113-1151) — comte d'Anjou et père d'Henri II d'Angleterre, sous le règne duquel le style architectural angevin connut son essorGuillaume de Beaumont — seigneur de la baronnie de Blaison au XIIIe siècle, probable commanditaire ou bienfaiteur de l'agrandissement gothique de l'égliseÉvêques d'Angers — autorité diocésaine qui supervisa la construction et la dédicace des paroisses rurales du Maine-et-Loire tout au long du Moyen ÂgeGustave Anjubault — inspecteur des monuments historiques de l'Anjou au XIXe siècle, dont les travaux d'inventaire contribuèrent à faire connaître les édifices ruraux comme celui de Blaison
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise de Blaison located?
Eglise de Blaison is located in Blaison-Gohier, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Eglise de Blaison built?
Eglise de Blaison dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Eglise de Blaison open to visitors?
Eglise de Blaison is currently closed to visitors.