Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: La Charité-sur-Loire

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed up to the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. For centuries, the abbey was an important stop on the Via Lemovicensis, which starts in Vézelay and crosses the Loire here. The Coquille St. Jaques is the sign of the pilgrims. From 2006 I walked this way in stages

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed up to the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. I had been here a couple of times and have already uploaded many photos, so by now I will only add a few

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed up to the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. I had been here a couple of times and have already uploaded many photos, so by now I will only add a few

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed up to the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. I had been here a couple of times and have already uploaded many photos, so by now I will only add a few

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed up to the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. The apartments use the wall of the former nave. I had been here a couple of times and have already uploaded many photos, so by now I will only add a few

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated, when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important for historians, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers crashed down already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire and partly collapsed. The priory existed upto the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. This portal is inside of Notre Dame. Just as seen at the outside portal, the carving style is very dynamic. Christ in the mandorla holds a bible. I could not read the words in the banners, the two bearded saints (apostles?) hold. Below (left) the Magi adorating Virgin and Child. Mary is seated on a kind of throne, Joseph waiting behind. To the right is the "Presentation of Jesus at the Temple".

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated, when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important for historians, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers crashed down already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire and partly collapsed. The priory existed upto the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. Standing in the nave, facing east to choir and ambulatory. Cluny III, demolished after the Franch Revolution, must have been similar, though Cluny III had two transepts - and was about 190 meters long. Notre Dame was once 120 meters long.

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated, when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important for historians, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers crashed down already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire and partly collapsed. The priory existed upto the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. I had been here first time in April 2006, when I followed the Via Lemovicensis. The place, where the car is parked, was once the western part of the nave, the houses to the left are, where the two aisles had been. The clerestory windows are still be seen.

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated, when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed upto the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. I had been here first time in April 2006, when I followed the Via Lemovicensis. The tympanum of the northermost, meanwhile bricked up portal has survived the demolishion. Under three swallow's nests, is Christ in a mandorla. Carved in a very dynamic style, that reminds me to Moissac and Soillac. Christ is flanked by saints and angles. Below from left to right: The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity and The Annunciation to the shepherds.

This was the main portal of the church, that belonged to a Cluniac priory. It was erected between 1059-1107 and was consecrated, when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed upto the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. The portal to the very left still has a tympanum. I had been here first time in April 2006, when I followed the Via Lemovicensis.

...crossing the Loire in La Charité-sur-Loire via the old bridge...