The Romanesque church was begun in the mid-11th century and contains many beautiful 11th- and 12th-century murals which are still in a remarkable state of preservation.

The church is often referred to as the "Romanesque Sistine Chapel" and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

The murals in the doorway describe the Apocalypse, while the gallery holds scenes from the Passion of Christ.

[1] In the choir and on the piers of the transept are images of the saints, and the vault describes scenes from the books of Genesis and Exodus.

[3] The stylistic tendencies that are present within the Abbey Church of St. Savin Gartempe follow the Angevin style, characterized by linear designs, which are often flat, and using color silhouettes to further the contrast of the light and dark grounds.