The appearance of the monumental ensemble makes the restoration project exceptionally interesting: the different parts of this church are of different origins. The main body of the church dates from the 13th century, on an earlier, certainly Carolingian, base. The southern transept is flanked by Romanesque apsidioles from the 11th century. The bell tower is from the 16th century. In other words, this “catalogue of architecture”, as a testimony of many epochs, is a remarkable symbol of integration of the past and harmony in diversity.
Today the church lacks its two transepts, like a Latin cross (†) without its arms. It’s not that there aren’t any, but the transepts are separated from the church by massive walls. One, the southern transept, is “open to heaven”. At its far end, the unfinished bell tower needs to be restored and protected against seepage. The project therefore includes the church, the southern transept and the bell tower.
For 5 years, the daily life of the teams will be filled with good and bad discoveries, difficulties and complexities that will have to be overcome as the work progresses.
The Great Recovery of the Church is the central project, the most complex and expensive. It is spread in 3 phases over the 5 years of the full project.
