Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Abbaye Saint-Pierre

The Benedictine Abbey of Brantôme was founded in 769 by Charlemagne, who endowed relics of Saint Sicarius (Sicaire), one of the infants in the Massacre of the Innocents. The abbey got looted and destroyed by Norman invaders in 848 and 857. The abbey was rebuilt end of the 10th century - and again end of the Hundred Years' War. The whole ensemble was restored by disputed Paul Abadie in the 19th century. The bridge connects the abbey with the "Jardin des Moins", the monks´ garden. The building behind the bridge is the former water mill of the abbey. The village of Brantôme developed on an artificial island opposite the abbey. Already in the 9th century, the monks had created that island by digging a connecting trench into a meander of the river Dronne. It is a tourist spot today, where large barges transport the visitors around.

The Benedictine Abbey of Brantôme was founded in 769 by Charlemagne, who endowed relics of Saint Sicarius (Sicaire), one of the infants in the Massacre of the Innocents. The abbey got looted and destroyed by Norman invaders in 848 and 857. The abbey was rebuilt end of the 10th century - and again end of the Hundred Years' War. The whole ensemble was restored by disputed Paul Abadie in the 19th century. The nave of the abbey church.

The Benedictine Abbey of Brantôme was founded in 769 by Charlemagne, who endowed relics of Saint Sicarius (Sicaire), one of the infants in the Massacre of the Innocents. The abbey got looted and destroyed by Norman invaders in 848 and 857. The abbey was rebuilt end of the 10th century - and again end of the Hundred Years' War. The whole ensemble was restored by disputed Paul Abadie in the 19th century. The portal of the abbey church.

The Benedictine Abbey of Brantôme was founded in 769 by Charlemagne, who endowed relics of Saint Sicarius (Sicaire), one of the infants in the Massacre of the Innocents. The abbey got looted and destroyed by Norman invaders in 848 and 857. The abbey was rebuilt end of the 10th century - and again end of the Hundred Years' War. The belltower dates to the 11th century (and is belived to be the oldest in France!), but it may actually even older, as parts of the foundations are merovingian, from a time, when hermits lived in caves, carved into the cliff behind the buildings of today. The ensemble was restored by disputed Paul Abadie in the 19th century. The village of Brantôme developed on an artificial island opposite the abbey. Already in the 9th century, the monks had created that island by digging a connecting trench into a meander of the river Dronne.

The Benedictine Abbey of Brantôme was founded in 769 by Charlemagne, who endowed relics of Saint Sicarius (Sicaire), one of the infants in the Massacre of the Innocents. The abbey got looted and destroyed by Norman invaders in 848 and 857. The abbey was rebuilt end of the 10th century - and again end of the Hundred Years' War. The belltower dates to the 11th century (and is belived to be the oldest in France!), but it may actually even older, as parts of the foundations are merovingian, from a time, when hermits lived in caves, carved into the cliff behind the buildings of today. The ensemble was restored by disputed Paul Abadie in the 19th century. The village of Brantôme developed on an artificial island opposite the abbey. Already in the 9th century, the monks had created that island by digging a connecting trench into a meander of the river Dronne.

The Benedictine Abbey of Brantôme was founded in 769 by Charlemagne, who endowed relics of Saint Sicarius (Sicaire), one of the infants in the Massacre of the Innocents. The abbey got looted and destroyed by Norman invaders in 848 and 857. The abbey was rebuilt end of the 10th century - and again end of the Hundred Years' War. The village of Brantôme developed on an artificial island opposite the abbey. Already in the 9th century, the monks had created that island by digging a connecting trench into a meander of the river Dronne.

A legend tells, that the Abbaye Saint-Pierre was founded by Frankish King Clovis in 506, but historians proved that it was indeed founded founded within the 7th century by the Bishop of Cahors. It was not easy for the convent. It got attacked by moorish troops twice within the 8th century. A hundred years later the Normans rowed up the Garonne and raided the place. After Hungarian troops had looted and destroyed it finally in the 10th century the monastery got rebuilt. When the pilgrimage to Santiago got popular, the Abbey got affiliated to Cluny and was a major halt on the Via Podensis. This was the golden age for the abbey and the abbots invested in architecture and art. The Romanesque church, consecrated already in 1063, got completely destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade. The portal, created 1110/1130, survived the times. It is a great piece of Romanesque art. This is a small detail of the tympanum, that refers to the Book of Revelation. The apocalypse is a common theme on tympana along the pilgrim-routes during the 12th century (eg. Morlaas, Conques, Aulnay, Saintes...). The Elders of the Apocalypse, holding their vielles, are masterly carved and very rich in details. They are all focussed on Christ in the center - and sit very relaxed. Revelation 4:4 "Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads."

A legend tells, that the Abbaye Saint-Pierre was founded by Frankish King Clovis in 506, but historians proved that it was indeed founded founded within the 7th century by the Bishop of Cahors. It was not easy for the convent. It got attacked by moorish troops twice within the 8th century. A hundred years later the Normans rowed up the Garonne and raided the place. After Hungarian troops had looted and destroyed it finally in the 10th century the monastery got rebuilt. When the pilgrimage to Santiago got popular, the Abbey got affiliated to Cluny and was a major halt on the Via Podensis. This was the golden age for the abbey and the abbots invested in architecture and art. The Romanesque church, consecrated already in 1063, got completely destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade. The portal, created 1110/1130, survived the times. It is a great piece of Romanesque art. This is a small detail of the tympanum, that refers to the Book of Revelation. The apocalypse is a common theme on tympana along the pilgrim-routes during the 12th century (eg. Morlaas, Conques, Aulnay, Saintes...). The Elders of the Apocalypse, holding their vielles, are masterly carved and very rich in details. They are all focussed on Christ in the center - and sit very relaxed. Revelation 4:4 "Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads."

We had decided to visit our irish friends in Moissac on our way north. I had met them, when I walked the Via Podensis some years ago. Of course we did return to the Abbaye Saint-Pierre. A legend tells, that the monastery was founded by Frankish King Clovis in 506, but historians proved that it was indeed founded founded within the 7th century by the Bishop of Cahors. It was not easy for the convent. The monastery got attacked by moorish troops twice within the 8th century. A hundred years later the Normans rowed up the Garonne and raided the place. After Hungarian troops had looted and destroyed it finally in the 10th century the monastery got rebuilt. When the pilgrimage to Santiago got popular, the Abbey got affiliated to Cluny and was a major halt on the Via Podensis. This was the golden age for the abbey and the abbots invested in architecture and art. The Romanesque church, consecrated already in 1063, got completely destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade. The portal, created 1110/1130, survived the times. It is a great piece of Romanesque art - and I took some more photos of this "World Heritage Site".