Vault Saint Andre de Mitroys

The Roman way of Narbonne in Lyon passed through Saint Andre de Mitroys. This church is probably of Gallo-Roman origin. 
It appears in the history at the beginning of Vllème century, that is to say at the time mérovingienne. The foundations and the base of the walls go up in XIème century; of XIIème at the XVIIème century, modifications gave him its current aspect and it became parish church.

Its name indicates an ancient origin in connection with the sanctuary of the god Mithra (low-relief of Borough-Saint-Andéol). It is a Romance building on vault with only one nave, completed in XIIème century. The piece with side, broadside of cypress, is the old cemetery. Like all the churches of the area, it has undergoes the dégats still visible time and wars on the restored building.

In 1969 this vault completely abandoned, was covered with ivy and dedicated without any doubt with a close relation ruins total. In 1970, on the initiative of the abbot Arnaud, the retauration could start.

The current building, composed of a long nave of three spans, is prolonged by a small semicircular apse, which is certainly very old, and one can think that the foundations and the base of the walls go up in XIe century.

The primitive church was to have same dimensions on the ground; it was not arched, but simply not covered with a frame. With the beginning of XIIème century, one had to want to arch it; the walls were rather thin, one did not touch them, but they were raised, which is seen very clearly by the change of apparatus starting from the middle height: at the base, masonry of small stones grisâtres, local limestone; it is the construction of XIème century.

In XIIème, when the walls were raised, the apparatus changes, the stones are white limestone, more carefully cut, squared well. One thus launches the vault, but as this vault is heavy and is likely to make deviate the walls, one applies against the latter of the buttresses, which are simply plated, but do not penetrate in the walls.

At the same time, to consolidate them interior, one establishes against them large side arcades. It was then possible to sit the Romance vault, reinforced of three arcs beams to simple roller established more or less of guingois because, paradoxically, the buttresses, on both sides of the nave, do not face exactly. The apse, it, did not change; it is certainly the primitive apse.

In front of the church, on the low wall bordering the steps leading to the square, is a engraved stone. It results probably from the first temple located in this place, dedicated to Mithra. The area was to dedicate to this god an important worship. Everywhere we find traces of this old worship, like the heads of bull in the cathedral of Fish ponds, very close city.

Water remainder very present here also, as with Montan saint. All around the church, one finds odd wells of form (it is not?).

On the threshold of the church, this stone makes me think of a stone with cup.

http://www.sauvegarde-ardeche.com/visites/mitroys.htm
http://www.mairie-st-montan.fr/pages/decouverte.htm#02