Fergusson, James: A history of architecture in all countries, from the earliest times to the present day: in five volumes (Band 2) (London, 1893)

64

FRENCH ARCHITECTÜRE.

Part II.

CHAPTER II.

AQUITANIA.

CONTENTS.

Cliurclaes at Périgueux, Souillac, Angoulême, Alby, Toulouse, Conques,
Tours.—Tombs.

The Tooment you pass the hills forming the watershed between the

rivers flowing to the Mediter-
ranean and those which debouch
into the Bay of Biscay, you
become aware of having left
the style we have just been
describing to enter upon a new
architectural province. This
province possesses two distinct
and separate styles, very unlike
one another both in character
and detail. The first of these
is a round arched tunnel-
vaulted Gothic style, more
remarkable for the grandeur
of its conceptions than for the
success with which those con-
ceptions are carried out, or for
beauty of detail. The second
is a pointed-arched, dome-roofed
style peculiar to the province.

The existence of this pecu-
liar form of art in this part
of France, where it is alone
found, is quite suificient to
establish the pre-existence in
this province of a race differing
from that inhabiting the rest

562. PlanofSt. Front, I’érigneux. (From F. deVerneilh, .

‘ Arohitecture Byzautine eu Frauce.’) of the COUntl’y, though lt 1S not

Scale 100 ft. to 1 in. , . . .

at present easy to determme
their origin. Broin the prevalence of Basque terminations to the
names of the principal towns in the district, and from the fragments