Saint-Riquier : une restitution nouvelle de la Basilique d'Angilbert
Honoré Bernard
The previous restitution of the Carolingian church Saint-Riquier's dates back to 1912. Proposed by W. Effmann, it was founded on testimony two Latin sources : Angilbert's Institutio (IXth century) and Hariulphe's Chronicle (XIth enriched with comparisons surviving westwerk (late IXth Corvey Abbey (Westphalia). Nowadays, given latest 1988 discoveries, we are able propose a renewed vision this important monument, actual «model monastic facility», which served as prototype for many religious buildings all over Carlovingian Empire. Relying archaeological excavations carried out site since 1959, enlightened M. Heitz's liturgical study published in 1963, due mention unpublished mediaeval displaying similar features, new reading Effmann's leads us following bulky built along centered plan (eight- sixteen- sided concentric polygons), one western side (the Saviour's Tower), connected system naves, completed eastern what definitely looks like martyrium girded corridor crypt reworked widened XIth century. This remarkable basilica has same dimensions present day abbey-church structures. It bounded its southern side, early VIIIth century, wide rectangular area -which will become cloister- claustral articulated.
Revue Du Nord