ÉGLISE SAINT MICHEL DE VIELLA

About

This church, dedicated to Saint-Michel, of Romanesque origin, was rebuilt except for the bell tower, in 1856. This one, a massive tower, houses two bells. The one on the right, dated 1949, replaces an old cracked bell from 1874. And the one on the right, from the same period, smaller, replaces a cracked bell from 1871. Both were cast by the workshop Fourcade of Tarbes and were financed by parish subscription. The chrism of 70 cm in diameter, of beautiful workmanship was made in 1856, from the pre-existing Romanesque example. It is close to the chrism of the church of Viey with its arcades representing the doors of the temple of the celestial Jerusalem and of Sers with its animals. This church was registered as a Historic Monument in July 1990.
Inside, a superb baroque altarpiece by the Soustre d’Asté workshop, commissioned in 1700 by Jean II. It has a three-level architecture: basement, main floor topped by an attic and three bays delimited by four richly decorated twisted columns. In the central niche sits a Saint Michael in ancient costume, with a golden helmet, adorned with an aigrette, and haloed by a scallop shell. He defeats the dragon as in the altarpiece of the church of Vizos. In one hand he holds a flaming sword and in the other a balance. The scales of the Last Judgement. Above, two angels present a coat of arms composed of two crossed arrows pointing to the ground. In the attic, God the Father is holding out his hand, surrounded by cherubs. He is framed, on his right, by the beautiful St. Mary Magdalene with her bottle of perfume with a skull at her feet, symbol of death, and, on her left, St. Margaret of Antioch crushing the tempting devil with her cross. On both sides of the pilasters framing Saint Michael, there is Saint Peter with his key and Saint Paul with his sword. The four twisted columns are each decorated at their base with the representation of the four Evangelists from left to right: Luke, John, Matthew and Mark
On the altar, a superb tabernacle, dazzling with all its gilding. The panel on the right is dedicated to the Birth of Jesus and the one on the left to the Assumption of Mary. The tabernacle is dominated by the risen Christ standing on a dome with gadroons; in some churches it is replaced by the cross. The presence of the latter, according to some scholars, is not in accordance with the directives of the Council of Trent. There, the Christ on the cross is on the door of the tabernacle. It is framed by sculpted panels covered with rich gilding. They represent the Assumption on the left and the Nativity on the right. These three elements, door and panels, are separated by twisted columns. It is likely that the date 1730 marked on a statue is the date of the gilding. Beautiful processional cross
The entrance houses a blue-black limestone stoup.

The church is closed, it can be opened on request to the town hall.

Sources : www.patrimoines-lourdes-gavarnie.fr Traduction automatique par DeepL via DATAtourisme

Location