voir l'article en anglais
voir l'article en anglais
 

The Hidden Sculptures in the Basilica

When sculpture is out of sight

The Basilica in Paray-le-Monial has a wealth of decorative sculpture (more than 350 capitals) all of which seems to be accessible to visitors to this building.
However, one part of it is so much out of sight that only the most curious visitors get to see it.

In front of you, in the north elevation, if you look closely at the top level of the left-hand porch tower, you will be able to make out a significant capital to the left of the central pillar.
This capital is known as “The Silent Man”.
It shows the face of a man looking towards the ground, and two arms protruding from behind the corbel which are preventing him from speaking.
Any viewer is bound to be intrigued by this scene with its mysterious symbolism, in what is nowadays the logo of the association “Friends of the Basilica”.

The silent man's capital

(Inside the church)
In the south side-aisle of the choir on the engaged column to the right of the votive candle rack, you will see a capital with two mermaids, one male and the other female.

The mermaid's capital

The female mermaid is highly ambiguous, depicting temptation and lust, but with a moral purpose. The male mermaid is holding its tail in one hand and a fish in the other. According to early Christian tradition going back to the Palaeochristian era, this fish probably symbolises redemption. Medieval iconography was based on codes and standard interpretations which enabled people to understand the meaning of such sculptures.
But we should be wary of trying to rob them of all their mystery, thus losing some of their inner meaning.

 

To carry on with the tour

  •  — Musée eucharistique du Hiéron:
    13, rue de la paix
    Tél: 03 85 81 79 72
  • — Musée Paul Charnoz:
    32, avenue de la gare
    Tél: 03 85 81 40 80
  • — House of the city and Saint Nicolas' tower:
    Place de l'hôtel de ville

  • Less than 5 km

  • — Romay's chapel :
    Go East, in Charolles' direction
  • — Romanesque church of Saint Léger-les-Paray:
    Go North, in Palinges' direction

  • Less than 10 km

  • — Vitry-en-Charollais' chapel:
    Go West, in Digoin's direction
  • — Romanesque chapel of Saint Yan :
    Go South, in Marcigny's direction
    '
  • Tourist office
    Near the basilica
    Tél: 03 85 81 10 92  

More info to carry on the tour on the Bourgogne du Sud's website

 

Map

The site you are currently visiting is located by this icon:

 

You can pinch-and-zoom on the map

 

Restaurants & Hotels