Saint-Loup-Hors (Canton of Bayeux, Calvados) Church of Saint-Loup

   The church of Saint-Loup has retained a nave from the end of the Romanesque period, reworked in the 18^th century, but its south aisle was cut off, from which two walled arches remain. The choir with its flat chevet dates from the 13^th century. The building is above all remarkable for its tower, built into the south part of the church between the nave and the choir. The 12^th century tower which has a square plan is on three levels: a blind base, a floor presenting on each face, sever blind arches and a last level pierced with high bays, framed with triples archivolts. The whole is crowned with a pyramid in stone with four sides. The tower is of great interest because it illustrates the transition between the Romanesque tower and the gothic tower in Normandy. It is not unlike that of Colombiers-sur-Seulles. A small portal, on its east face, presents a tympanum showing saint Loup treading on a snake at his feet.

Bibliography

- Caumont, Arcisse (de). - Statistique monumentale du Calvados, Hardel, Caen, 1859, T. 1,p. 414 à 417
- Musset, Lucien. - Normandie romane. I : Basse-Normandie. Zodiaque, La Pierre-qui-Vire, 1987, p. 40-41
- Les siècles romans en Basse-Normandie, Art de Basse-Normandie, n° 92, Printemps 1985, p. 106