Levroux and Stained Glass

About 45 kilometers from here, in the département of the Indre just south of Valençay, is the small town of Levroux. In the center of this unassuming place is a large church, called a collégiale, that is quite impressive. Construction on the collégiale began in the late 12th century, and parts of it were still being worked on at the end of the 15th century. To my eyes, the building looks mostly of the romanesque style, but its flying buttresses and interior ribbed vaults illustrate the ongoing transition to gothic style during this period.

At any rate, the building is an impressive sight, both outside and in. We (Ken and friends John & Candy) spent a good hour in and around the place before walking around the rest of town. Here is some of what we saw:



The sunny day made for an impressive show of stained glass inside the church. Not only were the windows brilliantly colorful, but the interior of the church was lit up, showing off details that we may not have seen on a cloudy day.

More stained glass in the collégiale at Levroux.

Of course, what's a good church without a gargoyle or two? This guy looks menacing enough. I wonder what the poor fellow below him is thinking?

We had a great time "discovering" Levroux. A little north of there is a small renaissance château called Bouges. We visited that on the same day. Look for a post in the near future about that visit.

And yes, I know, the Eiffel Tower/Invalides Paris tour is still in the works.