Saint-Pierre Abbey in Moissac — Attraction in Castelsarrasin

The cloister of Moissac Abbey Church in southwest France is one of the finest galleries of Romanesque art in the world and the oldest and largest cloister with narrative capitals. Completed in 1100 AD, it contains 76 capitals plus 12 large pillar reliefs in a large cloister measuring 31 meters by 27 meters.

Moissac's capitals are beautifully carved and in surprisingly good condition for their venerable age, except that virtually all the faces have sadly been smashed. Dramatically shaped like upside-down pyramids, the distinctive capitals of Moissac are carved over their entire surface, including the abacus (flat part at the top). Many of them have Latin inscriptions explaining the scene.

Subjects of the sculptures include delicate foliage, animal and human figures, biblical scenes and legends of the saints, all combined in an apparently random order that forms no narrative. Of the 76 total capitals, 46 depict narrative scenes from the Bible or the lives of the saints and 11 of those illustrate the Old Testament. Interestingly, none of the sculptures depict scenes from the Passion.

Below is a fully illustrated guide to the subjects of each capital and pillar in the Moissac cloister, using the modern numbering system found in the official visitor's guide and, e.g., the Blue Guide to Southwest France. The numbers correspond to the plan of the cloister at right, which is from the visitor's guide. Capital Roman numerals refer to...

Moissac Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its door and cloister, with architecture that makes it a masterpiece of Romanesque art. The south door of the Church of Saint-Pierre, a real gem from the 12th century, displays a finely sculpted tympanum depicting Christ in Majesty and the Apocalypse according to St. John. Inside the building, the chancel and its enclosing wall in sculpted stone, a Romanesque Christ from the 12th century, a Virgin of Pity, a Flight to Egypt and an Entombment from the 15th century are on display to visitors. Another marvel to be seen in the abbey is the prestigious Romanesque cloister and its 76 superb sculpted capitals, dating from the late 11th century and adorned with narrative scenes about the lives of the saints and biblical scenes. There's plenty for lovers of religious art to admire! A big cedar, over 200 years old, adds to the charm and the serenity of the whole place. At the south-west corner of the cloister, a narrow staircase leads to the upper room - the chapel of St. Michael in the Romanesque architectural style - located in the abbey church's bell tower, above...

The abbaye is located in the heart of Moissac an important stop for St Jacques de Compostelle pilmigrage route. It is really nice to walk in the city as you feel village vibes with a lot of restaurants and art shops around. The atmosphere in the town with all the red/pink bricks remind about the architecture of Toulouse town and its surrondings. The abbaye is amazing both inside and outside with glorious Romanesque architecture. On the outside you can see all the sculptures in the huge wood entrance door. While I was there the cloitre was closed but the building seems really nice. From the inside the orgue and the paintings are very well renovated and keep in good shape. It is a very nice little town located next to the river Tarn. It is a must see if you are staying in Tarn or Toulouse. I visited the town in winter it was really quiet and peaceful, feel...