The 12th century Romanesque portal of the Abbey church of Ste. Foy, Conques, France

The Last Judgement Tympanum, over the west portal of the Abbey-church of Sainte Foy at Conques, in the Aveyron, southwest France, is one of the finest Romanesque portals in existence. Sculpted in the first half of the twelth century, the tympanum has been remarkably well preserved to this day, with much of the medieval colouring still visible. The fine state of preservation of these medieval sculptures is due on the one hand to the relatively mild climate in this part of southwest France, on the other hand to the location of this small town well off the beaten track. Conques was nevertheless, and indeed still is, a major stopping point on the great pilgrimage route from Le Puy en Velay to Santiago de Compostella, in Spain. The tympanum was designed to remind medieval pilgrims of the reason for their long and arduous trek across Europe - to achieve salvation (left half of the tympanum) and avoid being cast out into Hell (right half of the tympanum).

Photo gallery : Sainte Foy church - Conques