Église Ste-Radegonde, Poitiers
Gothic west door and Romanesque tower. Photo © Jaufré Rudel.
Crypt with the tomb of St. Radegunda. Photo © Jaufré Rudel.
Sarcophagus of St. Radegunda. Photo © Jaufré Rudel.
Exterior carved capital of a praying figure. Photo © Jaufré Rudel.
Painted capital depicting Daniel and the lions. Photo © Jaufré Rudel.
Another painted capital in the ambulatory. Photo © Jaufré Rudel.
The Église Ste-Radegonde (Church of St. Radegunda) on the east side of Poitiers dates from the 11th century, but is built over a much older church. It contains the ancient tomb of the town's patroness, St. Radegunda, along with some fine painted capitals.
History
This church has ancient origins and was originally named Ste-Marie-Hors-les-Murs (St. Mary outside the Walls), but it was renamed for the city's patron saint when she was laid to rest here after her death in 587 AD.
Sainte Radegonde (known as Radegunda or Radegund in English) was born a princess, the daughter of the king of Thuringia. In about 531, she was captured by the ruthless Merovingian King Chlotar I (son of Clovis) during an expedition against the Thuringians.
Radegunda was educated at the court of Chlotar and eventually married the king. However, she is said to have hoped for martyrdom from an early age and the king complained of having a nun rather than a wife for his queen. The pious woman was humble and virtous, tending to the poor and the sick despite her high station.
Eventually Radegunda secured her release from Chlotar and became a nun with the permission of Médard, bishop of Noyon. She later founded the nunnery of the Holy Cross at Poitiers. It was said that Radegunda performed numerous miracles and that Christ appeared to her a year before her death on August 13, 587.
The early church in which Radegunda was buried in Poitiers was destroyed in 877. The present building dates mostly from the 11th century (crypt, choir and west tower), with the Gothic nave and west doorway dating from the 13th through 15th centuries.
What to See
On the exterior, the high Gothic west door stands next to the Romanesque bell tower.
Inside is a nave dating from a 13th-century restoration in the Gothic style of western France and an ambulatory with colorfully painted capitals featuring human and animal figures.
Beneath the chancel is a crypt containing the sarcophagus of St. Radegunda (d.587) and a marble statue given by Anne of Austria.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Église Sainte-Radegonde; St. Radegonde Church; Sainte-Marie-Hors-les-Murs |
| Type of site: | Church |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Status: | Active |
| Dates: | Ancient origins; present building mostly 11th century |
| Architecture: | Romanesque and Gothic |
| Location: | East side of Poitiers, France |
| Phone: | 05 49 41 21 24 |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Sainte Radegonde Church. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Poitiers Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Ste Radegonde, Poitiers - Planetware
- Sainte Radegonde Church - Vienne Tourism
- L'église Sainte-Radegonde de Poitiers - Diocese of Poitiers
- Saint Radegunda - Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
