Church of Valleys

The church of Vals is a semi-rupestral church on three levels, locking up frescos of a great historical interest.

Characteristics of the building

A semi-rupestral church

The church of Valleys is semi-rupestral, which means that it is partly built in the stone, at least for its low part.

A building on three levels

The building with the characteristic to be built on three levels:

a lower nave, in the rock, prolonged by a rectangular apse sheltering of the Romance frescos
a nave higher, altered than several times
a high vault of XIIe century surmounted by a turn-keep raised towards XIVe century

Frescos

The Abside preserves Romance frescos of first half of XIIe century devoted mainly to the life of the Christ. They represent the Annonciation, the Nativité (Bath of the Jesus Child), the Worship of the Mages, the Apôtres and the Parousie (Christ in majesty surrounded of the symbols of the four evangelists, of archangels lawyers, a Chérubin and a Séraphin). These frescos, of Catalan influence, are of a very great interest for the history of the art of the Romance period. The representation of archangels lawyers (four) is exceptional; it is the only known one to date in France.

Internal bonds

Town of Valleys

External bonds

video
article and report on the restoration of the frescos (2007) on AriegeNews

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