Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: mane

For centuries this town was known as "Le Montet-aux-Moines" but after the French Revolution the name was shortened. Archambault II of Bourbon founded a Benedictine monastery here, as a burial ground for himself and his successors. This priory, dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy) developed well and was soon after one of the largest of the area. The vast former abbey-church dates to the 12th century, it got modified in the 14th century and severely damaged in 1567, when during the Wars of Religions Huguenot troops burned down and sacked town and convent. The church was in very bad conditions after the Revolution and in 1871 the large apse, the ambulatory and the radiating chapels were pulled down. The building lost nearly half of its former length. The nave has some extraordinary capitals. (Dancing?) Daniel in the lions' den, a "Master of Beasts". The lions have wings, strange manes and human faces.