Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/498

 466 FRENCH AECHITECTURE. Part II. T CHAPTER 11. AQUITANIA. CONTENTS. Churches at Perigeux, Souillac, Angonleme, Alby, Toulouse, Conques, Tours. — Tombs. HE moment you pass the hills forming the watershed between the rivers flowing to the Mediter- ranean and those which de- bouch into the Bay of Biscay, you become aware of having left the style we have just been describing to enter upon a new architectural ])rovince. This province possesses two distinct and separate styles, vei-y iinlike one anotlier both in character and detail. The iirst 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 conceptions 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 peculiar form of art in this part of France, Avhere it is alone found, is quite suflicient to establish the pre-existence in this province of a race differ- ing from that inhabiting the rest of the country, though it is not at present easy to determine their origin. From the prevalence of Basque terminations to the names of the principal towns in the district, and from the 328. Plan of St. Front, Perigeux. (From F. de Verneilh, "Architecture Byzantine en France.") Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.