Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
Abbaye de Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
A UNESCO World Heritage Site often called the “Romanesque Sistine Chapel,” whose vaulted ceiling preserves Europe's most complete group of 11th- and 12th-century murals.
The Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe lies about 40 km east of Poitiers and was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1983. The barrel-vaulted nave, about 42 meters long, is covered with murals depicting biblical stories including Genesis and Exodus. Their colors and compositions are well preserved, making them among the most important surviving examples of Romanesque mural painting in Europe. The visitor center has a multimedia exhibition hall and replicas of the murals. Tickets cost about 9 euros and include a guided tour. The drive takes about 45 minutes, and it can be combined with Chauvigny and Angles-sur-l'Anglin into a one-day loop.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–18:00 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Angles-sur-l'Anglin
- Chauvigny
- La Roche-Posay
- La Planète des Crocodiles
- Merovingian Necropolis of Civaux
- Nouaillé-Maupertuis Abbey
- Hypogée des Dunes
- Futuroscope