| Brinay | |
| Commune Status: | Commune |
| Arrondissement: | Vierzon |
| Canton: | Mehun-sur-Yèvre |
| Insee: | 18036 |
| Postal Code: | 18120 |
| Mayor: | Bernard Baucher[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Intercommunality: | CC Cœur de Berry |
| Coordinates: | 47.1783°N 2.1286°W |
| Elevation M: | 120 |
| Elevation Min M: | 97 |
| Elevation Max M: | 137 |
| Area Km2: | 29.48 |
Brinay (pronounced as /fr/) is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France.
Brinay is an area of farming and forestry, consisting of the village and five hamlets. It is situated by the banks of the river Cher some 8km (05miles) southeast of Vierzon, at the junction of the D30, D18e and the D27 roads.
The church of St. Aignan, dating from the eleventh century is notable for its unique character as a private church and its Romanesque paintings. It consists of a rectangular nave followed by a choir of the same design, preceded by a porch or "caquetoir" (gossip room).
The altar wall is constructed from nearly regular-sized stones. The construction technique includes the use of arches, shaped by carefully aligned keystones and large joints. The vault terminates with an archivolt, featuring small projecting stones, with the base of a cornice still visible on the left and right sides.
The mural paintings in the choir were discovered by André Humbert in 1912. Based on the style of movement, clothing, and hairstyles of the depicted peasants, the date of the paintings has been estimated to around the mid-12th century.
These murals cover all four walls of the choir, which is believed to have been the original chapel, built in the 11th century. The northern, eastern, and southern walls depict, in two registers, key events from the life of Jesus before the Passion. The western wall features paintings of prophets and evangelists.
In the 12th century, a new chapel was added. It features a barrel vault of wood and is illuminated by semi-circular windows. The chapel connects to the choir through a rounded archway.
The bell tower dates from the 17th century, and the bell itself was cast in 1685. The "caquetoir" was constructed in the 19th century.
L'église Saint-Aignan was listed as a historical monument in 1972.