Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: moorish

The Romans conquered the place in 57 BC. BC and expanded it into a walled city. The city gained importance because it was at the intersection of several important transport routes. During the barbarian invasions, Évora came under the rule of the Visigothic king Leovigild in 584. In 715, the city was conquered by the Moors. During the Moorish rule (715–1165), the town slowly began to prosper again and developed into an agricultural center with a fortress and a mosque. Évora was wrested from the Moors through an attack by Geraldo Sem Pavor ("Gerald the Fearless") in 1165. The town came under the rule of the Portuguese king Afonso I in 1166. It then flourished during the Middle Ages, especially in the 15th century. The official name of the museum is “Museo Nacional Fray Manuel del Cenáculo”. It is located in the old bishop's palace. Moorish tombstone, marble, 9th century

The parish church of Saint-Martin was erected in Ainay within the late 12th and the 13th century, supported for sure by the Capetians / Bourbons, who at that time owned the neighbouring castle, that is dubbed today (after many alterations, modifications and enlargements) "le petit Carcassonne". The church has an extraordanary portal with the five lobes that are even embellished with very small heads. The architectonic "mozarabic" style of the portal roots in Moorish architecture, that the "pelerins" had seen in Spain.

The monastery in Ganagobie, on a plateau over the river Durance, was founded within the 10th century. It prospered, but got devasted during the Wars of Religion. After the French Revolution it was sold - and the monastry was partly demolished. The church, seen here, was constructed within the 12th century. The portal is unique and remembers to Moorish architecture. The carving of the tympanum shows Christ, surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. There is a theory, saying this part may come from Burgundy (Ganagobie was clunian). On the lintel below are the twelve apostles. Here is more information: www.ndganagobie.com/index.htm

The monastery in Ganagobie, on a plateau over the river Durance, was founded within the 10th century. It prospered, but got devasted during the Wars of Religion. After the French Revolution it was sold - and the monastry was partly demolished. The church, seen here, was constructed within the 12th century. The foundations of two older churches have been excavated. The portal is unique and remembers to Moorish architecture. The carving of the tympanum shows Christ, surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. On the lintel below are the twelve apostles. Here is more information: www.ndganagobie.com/index.htm

Today Montréal is a small village (pop. 200), but here was already a fortified settlement, when the Normans raided the area and pillaged the place in 888. From the 11th century on here was a castle. Anseric I, Seigneur de Montréal, obviously listened to Bernard de Clairvaux, who preached the Second Crusade at near Vezelay in 1146. Returning home from the crusade Anseric I founded a collegiate and commissioned the erection of the collegiate church, seen here. The church was completed around 1170 by Anseric II. The convent existed upto the French Revolution. During the Revolution, the tympanum got destroyed and when for a year, the church served as a "Temple de la Raison". The according inscription is fading over the doors, where once the tympanum was. Today church serves the parish. Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was impressed by the church, built during the transition from Romanesque to Gothic style, and cared for the restauration in the first half of the 19th century. He restored the nice portal. The polylobe arches seem influenced by Moorish architecture, a style, that was more common in Southern France. I learned, that the rose window, seen here, is one of the oldest of its kind in the whole of France.

The "Catedral de Santa Maria" in Huesca got erected over 300 years. The building started end of the 13th century in gothic style, replacing a mosque that had served as a church, since Huesca was conquered in 1096 by Christian troops led by Peter I of Aragon. This Romanesque portal, leading to the cloister, is one of the few traces of the "pre-Gothic" structure. The polylobe portal is strongly influenced by the moorish/Mozarabic style.

Saint Miguel is tightly connected to Saint Mary of Eunate (8 kms west) and it is as enigmatic. There are many theories centered around these two churches. The portal of San Miguel is very similar to the portal of Saint Mary of Eunate, but mirror inverted. Here one of the four capitals of the portal. There is a grotesque head at the corner, flanked by two small, skinny persons, that seem to be enchained. The information given in Olcoz prefers the theory that the carvings of Olcoz and Eunate should be seen as a calender. Following this, the carving seen here stands for LIBRA, I actually doubt that. In case these persons are indeed in chains, they are in deed prisoners (remember the handcuff-greffito in Eunate), this capitals should be seen on the background of the Reconquista.