Church of Saint-Nicolas, Beaulieu
The church of Saint-Nicolas was built in the Romanesque era around the end of the eleventh century. It has a single nave with a steeple that was probably divided by a transept. The choir ends with a flat chevet. The main attraction of this building lies in the murals from the Gothic period (13th, 14th century) which cover the walls and the vault of the choir. They were discovered during the dismantling of the altar tabernacle baroque altarpiece.
About this building
Until the Revolution, Beaulieu, on the borders of Berry and the limousine walk, was a priory dependent on the Augustinian abbey of Benevento, in the diocese of Limoges. The Saint-Nicolas church, oriented East-West, was built in the Romanesque era from the end of the eleventh century.
It’s nave, a single vessel, topped with a steeple, was covered with a coffered paneling and lit by a single window in the south wall. The church was probably divided by a transept as suggested by the presence of two chapels open to the north and south, which replaced the arms of the transept.
The main interest of this building lies in the Gothic wall paintings that cover the walls and vault of the choir. Discovered in 1994, during the dismantling of the altar-tabernacle and altarpiece (Baroque classified gilded wood from the eighteenth century), they were restored in 1996. Fragmentary scenes from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, or even the beginning of Fifteenth century, painted in three layers, are juxtaposed or superimposed in places, so that it is sometimes difficult to discern them. The church also houses beautiful wooden statues, sarcophagi and the bell tower has a bell (dated 1501) with motifs of great originality.
