St. Peter's Church, Vienne, France

St. Peter's (Saint-Pierre) Church in Vienne is one of the oldest in France, dating from the 6th century. From its initial configuration it has maintained the layout of a basilica. In 1872, an archaeological museum opened presenting sculptures, mosaics and sarcophagi.

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Vienne Tourism

User Reviews

Marshall Bain (15 months ago)
Awesome

Antoine M (2 years ago)
It's considered to be one of the oldest surviving churches in France and a listed national monument. Unfortunately it's closed for major renovation so I couldn't explore the interior! It's also an archeological museum. But what I couldn't see inside I was intrigued by this beautiful building which was built in the late fifth century! The intriguing history also adds to the mysterious beauty of this Church; that it was once used as Basilica funeral home for the burial of most bishops in the twelfth century, and then transformed into a museum in 1809. Even without being able to see inside I was impressed with the building and imagine what it's like inside. Worth visiting especially when the museum reopens. But sadly I might not be able to visit as I'm leaving Vienne soon! One day perhaps.

Celine “Communication & Conseil” consultante référencement naturel (2 years ago)
Church desecrated dixit St. Peter's Museum. Museum of Local History to discover paired with the Museum of Contemporary Art. Beautiful place where we always discover new things. Free on the first Sunday of the month.

Max Niedzwiecki (2 years ago)
One of France's oldest churches, built in the 5th century, just as the Roman Empire was crumbling. Since 1872 a museum of Roman and early Christian antiquities found in Vienne. It's a gloomy, outdated place stuck in a time-warp, where you will often be the only visitor, and I LOVE IT.

jerome martin (2 years ago)
A voir

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Martin M. Miles

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Étienne

The Abbey of Saint-Etienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes ('Men"s Abbey'), is a former monastery dedicated to Saint Stephen (Saint Étienne). It is considered, along with the neighbouring Abbaye aux Dames ('Ladies" Abbey'), to be one of the most notable Romanesque buildings in Normandy. Like all the major abbeys in Normandy, it was Benedictine.

Lanfranc, before being an Archbishop of Canterbury, was abbot of Saint-Etienne. Built in Caen stone during the 11th century, the two semi-completed churches stood for many decades in competition. An important feature added to both churches in about 1120 was the ribbed vault, used for the first time in France. The two abbey churches are considered forerunners of the Gothic architecture. The original Romanesque apse was replaced in 1166 by an early Gothic chevet, complete with rosette windows and flying buttresses. Nine towers and spires were added in the 13th century. The interior vaulting shows a similar progression, beginning with early sexpartite vaulting (using circular ribs) in the nave and progressing to quadipartite vaults (using pointed ribs) in the sanctuary.

The two monasteries were finally donated by William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, as penalty for their marriage against the Pope"s ruling. William was buried here; Matilda was buried in the Abbaye aux Dames. Unfortunately William"s original tombstone of black marble, the same kind as Matilda"s in the Abbaye aux Dames, was destroyed by the Calvinist iconoclasts in the 16th century and his bones scattered.

As a consequence of the Wars of Religion, the high lantern tower in the middle of the church collapsed and was never rebuilt. The Benedictine abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and the abbey church became a parish church. From 1804 to 1961, the abbey buildings accommodated a prestigious high school, the Lycée Malherbe. During the Normandy Landings in 1944, inhabitants of Caen found refuge in the church; on the rooftop there was a red cross, made with blood on a sheet, to show that it was a hospital (to avoid bombings).

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