St Benoit sur Loire Attractions

St-Benoît-sur-Loire (pop. 1,895) is famed for its great Benedictine abbey, the origins of which go back to the seventh C. The large Romanesque church, one of the finest in France, was built between 1067 and 1218. Originally the towers were higher than they now are. The outstanding feature of the church is the porch tower (originally free- standing) with its richly carved capitals. The interior is light and beautifully proportioned. The crypt (12th C.), on the same ground- plan as the apse, contains the relics of St Benedict, brought here from the abbey of Monte Cassino in the late seventh C.