The side entrance of Châteauneuf

A copy of the one at Charlieu

The south entrance to St Paul’s church in Châteauneuf, facing the chateau, has a carved lintel identical to the one in the narthex of the abbey church of St Fortunatus in Charlieu.  They are the work of a group of travelling sculptors in the middle of the 12th century, who also worked at St Laurent-en-Brionnais or Vauban. 

The lintel itself rests on corbels decorated with human heads. It shows the 12 apostles, each in a blind arch. Only Peter is recognisable by his characteristic sign, while the other figures are simply distinguishable by having a beard or by carrying a book.

The lintel of Châteauneuf's church

The treatment of the figures is quite simple: sturdy figures, short legs, large and quite simple heads, as is also the case with the people on the two capitals.

The lintel of Charlieu's Church

On the left, there is a scene showing a bishop with crozier and mitre accompanied by a man whose hand is being bitten by a quadruped. On the right, the capital is representational, showing two couples of people, probably clerics, separated by columns.

To carry on with the tour

• — Musée de la croix blanche :
  Place des Marronniers
  71140 Châteauneuf
  Open may to september 

• Less than 5 km

• — Romanesque chapel of Saint Maurice-les-Châteauneuf :
  Go West, in Ligny-en-Brionnais' direction
• — Romanesque church of Saint Martin-de-Lixy :
  Go South, in Charlieu's direction

• Less than 10 km

• — Romanesque church of Vauban:
  Go West, in Ligny-en-Brionnais' direction,
  then go in Saint Christophe-en-Brionnais' direction
• — Romanesque church of Ligny-en-Brionnais :
  Go West, in Ligny-en-Brionnais' direction
• — Romanesque chapel of Chassigny-sous-Dun :
  Go North, in La Clayette's direction
• — Musée du tissage, Chauffailles :
  Go East, in Chauffailles' direction

• Tourist office

• Chauffailles,
  1 rue Gambetta
  Tél : 03 85 26 07 06

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

Map

Restaurants & Hotels

• Where to eat?

• — Restaurant "La Fontaine" :
  Au Bourg
  71740 Châteauneuf
  09 81 15 26 87
  
  
• — La Margot :
  71740 Saint-Maurice-lès-Châteauneuf
  03 85 28 21 44
• More info on restaurants on the Bourgogne du Sud's website

• Where to sleep?

• — Hôtel Restaurant "Le Relais de Saint-Julien" :
  Le Bourg
  71110 Saint-Julien-de-Jonzy
  03 85 84 01 95
  www.le-relais-de-saint-julien.com
• — Hôtel-Restaurant de la Gare :
  38, rue de la Gare
  71800 La Clayette
  03 85 28 01 65
• More info on hotels on the Bourgogne du Sud's website