Type: Church
Century: XII,XV y XVII
Architectural style: Romanesque – Gothic
Village: Casau
Municipality: Vielha e Mijaran
The church of Sant Andrèu de Casau is a perfect architectural example that clearly illustrates one of the typical characteristics of Aranese ecclesiastic heritage: the co-existence of different artistic styles in the same building. The baptismal font is a magnificent example of Romanesque iconography with a marked figurative and symbolic charge; The outside surface of the basin narrates the Christian discourse which avails itself of fish symbolism, amongst others, to address the regeneration and immortality of the soul through the sacrament of baptism.
Another Romanesque element of the church of Sant Andrèu is the sculpted Christ embedded at the top of the entrance facade.
And while on the Romanesque legacy church of Casau, final mention must go to a wood carving of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her lap; recent restoration work has totally recovered the original polychrome work of the piece.
The rest of the religious building features elements from different periods; thus we have a Gothic access facade (15th Century); the belfry, built, like most belfries in Aran, during the 18th Century; and above all a magnificent sculptural ensemble including magnificent examples of the religious imagery of the 17th and 18th Centuries.
