Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, located in Braye-sous-Faye (Indre-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Braye-sous-Faye, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 46.9919, 0.3471
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00097601
On the edge of Touraine, Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Braye-sous-Faye boasts a Romanesque portal of rare finesse and a funerary crypt linked to the powerful Richelieu family.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
Nestling in the Touraine bocage, the parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Braye-sous-Faye is one of those discreet jewels that the curious traveller discovers with the wonder of a find. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1926, it combines several centuries of local architecture and history in a single building, from the flourishing Romanesque of the 12th century to the classical alterations of the 18th century. What makes this building truly unique is the harmonious - almost miraculous - coexistence of distinct architectural strata. The western facade features a Romanesque portal with two scrolls of remarkable sculptural quality, whose capitals with lush foliage and fantastical creatures bear witness to the skills of Touraine stonemasons in the Middle Ages. In contrast, the later south side door reflects the classical serenity of the 18th century, with its lintel adorned with a medallion. The interior offers a rich sensory experience. The nave, restored in 1924, is bathed in subdued light that highlights the sobriety of the volumes. The southern bell tower, whose ground floor boasts a remarkable ribbed vault supported by sculpted lintels, introduces a Gothic note that interacts with the Romanesque ensemble. But the highlight of the visit is undoubtedly the crypt beneath the choir: barrel-vaulted, it was the burial place of the Richelieu family, linking this discreet village to one of the most powerful dynasties in French history. The village setting of Braye-sous-Faye, with its gently rolling countryside on the edge of the Richelais region, adds to the charm of the visit. The church stands in an unspoilt rural setting, where the silence of the bocage invites serene contemplation. For lovers of Romanesque heritage or Capetian and modern history, this monument is a must-see when exploring the Touraine profonde region.
Architecture
Saint-Jean-Baptiste church has a classic longitudinal plan, with a single nave flanked by two side chapels, a rectangular choir and a bell tower to the south of the nave. This layout, common in rural parishes in Touraine, makes it possible to clearly identify the different building campaigns that took place between the 12th and 20th centuries. The western façade is the architectural highlight of the building. Its Romanesque portal with two keystones, the remarkable sculpture of the column capitals - stylised foliage and fantastical animals from the medieval bestiary - bears witness to a high quality workshop. The later addition of a third segmental arch introduces a Gothic touch that enriches the composition without upsetting its balance. The southern bell tower, massive and well-proportioned, has one of the building's architectural surprises on its ground floor: an ogival vault resting on four quatrefoils carved with expressive human heads, a quatrefoil motif and an armorial shield, a fragment of the heraldic memory of the local lords. The interior reveals the historical stratification of the monument. The twelfth-century Romanesque chevet, which has been preserved despite the classical remodelling of the choir in the eighteenth century, is in dialogue with the more sober, regular volumes of the restored nave. Beneath the choir, the barrel-vaulted crypt - an architectural form inherited from Roman antiquity and adopted by Romanesque builders - embodies a striking funerary austerity. As a whole, it evokes a rural building of great constructive sincerity, favouring the solidity of the local tufa masonry over decorative trappings.
Related Figures
Armand Jean du Plessis, cardinal de Richelieu (1585-1642), dont la famille possédait une crypte funéraire sous le chœur de l'égliseFrançois du Plessis de Richelieu (†1590), père du cardinal, seigneur des terres environnantesFamille de Richelieu, dont plusieurs membres furent inhumés dans la crypte paroissiale de Braye-sous-FayeArchitecte restaurateur anonyme des campagnes de 1924, responsable de la remise en état intérieure de la nef et des chapellesSeigneurs locaux médiévaux, commanditaires présumés du portail roman du XIIe siècle
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste located?
Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste is located in Braye-sous-Faye, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste built?
Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste open to visitors?
Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste is currently closed to visitors.