Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: donjon

Albi was a wealthy and prospering time already in the 11th century, when a bridge, that still exists, was built, to cross the river Tarn. Albis´s fate changed dramatically, when in 1208 Pope Innocent III and Philip II of France decided to start the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate Catharism in the south of France. Albi was an important center of the Cathars and got nearly completely destroyed between 1209 and 1229. Many Cathars were burnt at the stake in Albi. When, just after the Crusade, Durand de Beaucaire was bishop here, the erection of this fortress and the donjon started. The fortress, what was meant to be the episcopal palace, was enlarged and furher fortified even by his successors. Obviously the Catholic administration did not really feel safe and comfortable in that time. Later, the bishops transformed the structure into a stately palace with Baroque gardens, overlooking the river Tarn. Since the 1920s the Palais de la Berbie hosts the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 – 1901) was born in Albi.

The fortified church of Plomion was built entirely of brick on the foundations of an older church. There are about 60 loopholes all around the tower, that has a geometric pattern, created by glazed bricks. The Thiérache area in Northern France has been a place, where many wars and battles were fought over the centuries (upto WW1). To fortify the church, and so to offer shelter to the rural population, was an idea many villagers followed here.

The medieval church in Burelles, dedicated to Saint-Martin, got fortified within the 16th and 17th century. The first floor of the tower is equipped with fireplaces and rooms for the refugees. The Thiérache area in Northern France has lots of fortified churches. A panoramic road, named "Route des Eglises Fortifiées" connects many of them. Just follow the brown sign (right).

The church, dedicated to Saint-Médard, dates to the 12th century and has some nicely sculpted Romanesque corbels. The huge donjon-like tower, built out of bricks, was added in the 16th century. The tower is massive, 25 metres high - and "dwarfs" the approaching visitor, this effect may have frighten mercenaries away, that roamed the area in search for any easy prey, - inbetween paid jobs.

A priory was in Clansayes within the 10th century. Later the Knights Templar took over the place and strongly fortified it. It is overlooking the valley of the Rhone. This tower is one of the few remaining structures of the fortified place. The statue of the Virgin tops the 20 m high tower since the 19th century.

Morthemer, once an independent settlement, is since 1969 part of larger Valdivienne. Seen here on the other side of the valley are castle and church of Morthemer. The castle has a really massive donjon. The erection of both structures started within the 11th century. Though directly connected to the castle, the church was a collegiate church, but the collegiate probably depended from the Seigneurs de Morthemer.

Evening in Étampes. Since the times of Hugh Capet, the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet, Étampes was an important place. It was a crown domain between Paris and Orleans. Hugh´s son Robert II ("Robert the Pious") had a fortified stronghold here. The Château d'Étampes suffered from sieges during the Hundred Years' War and got destroyed on order of Henry IV (aka "Henri-Quatre"), the first French King from the House of Bourbon. The ruined keep of the castle, named "Tour de Guinette", still overlooks the city.

Saint Miguel, the parish church, was already some centuries old, when this tower got constructed within the 14th and15th century. A fortified palace for the noble Ozta family in medieval times. At the time the entrance was half way up. The massive tower escaped the demolition decreed in 1512, but was set on fire during the Spanish War of Independence (1808-1812). Only the outer walls were left standing. Meanwhile the tower is fully restored and now is the seat of the local council.

Late afternoon in Pons, where a settlement existed on the banks of the river Seugne already in pre-Roman times. The Romans had a "castrum" here and may have built a bridge = pons crossing the river. Centuries later, after Visigoths and Vandals had looted the area, the importance grew. Geoffroy III de Pons, a vasall of Richard Lionheart, fortified the town and erected this impressive donjon in 1187, that got a bit "remodeled" in the early 20th century. It is 33 meters high! Only this donjon is left from the medieval castle, that got destroyed by Louis XIII´s troops in 1622. Later the chateau seen left was built, now housing the "mairie", the mayor´s office.