Notre-Dame de Centeilles
Although this old chapel doesn't look particularly impressive from the outside, inside it is a wonder. The chapel dates from the XIII and XIV centuries and is built on the site of a previous Romanesque church. Two chapels, one on each side of the nave, were added in the XV century. A Roman mosaic from a III century villa nearby is on view inside as is the outline of the apse of the original chapel. The roof of the chapel is made of stone flags ("lauzes") with its own small community of weeds.
The crowning glory of this chapel are its frescoes. These mostly date from the XV century and are in a remarkable state of preservation. The vaulted roof of the apse is covered in floral designs, and many sections of the walls are painted in bright yellows and reds with geometric and naturalistic designs. There is a painting of the Tree of Jesse which shows the ancestors of Christ with King David playing the harp. On the wall of one transept is a depiction of Christ rising from the tomb surrounded by angels. The angels are black but I understand this is due to discolouration due to pollution when the chapel was used to keep sheep during a time of use as a "bergerie". This same usage has caused the total loss of decoration from the lower parts of the walls. Click on the thumbnails to the left and below for more photos. The chapel is usually closed to the public but can be visited on Sunday afternoons from March to November when a guide from the local 'Amis des Centeilles' is available.
