Cobwebbed Christ

The Chapelle du Cheylard stands on a little grassy mound on the edge of the village of St Geniès, in the Dordogne region of France. It is apparently the chapel of a cemetery that no longer exists, and is itself no longer used for any services. Apart from the altar, with its cobweb-festooned figure of Christ, and a small statue to one side, the only decoration consists of fine 14th century frescoes on the walls. One of these has suffered a fairly heavy-handed attempt at restoration, but the others are faded and delicate.

The floor is broken and damp, the door rotting, the atmosphere quiet. There is a strong sense of the past, which the sunlight outside did nothing to dispel.