Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Clairvaux

Melrose Abbey shares the fate of all the great abbeys in the border region between England and Scotland. Because of the many wars, they survive only as ruins. As early as the 6th century, there was an older abbey dedicated to St Aidan about two miles east of the current monastery. It was destroyed by Kenneth I of Scotland in 839. Melrose Abbey was built in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of the Scottish King David I. The monastery was a daughter foundation of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire from the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The abbey became the mother church of the order in Scotland. Robert the Bruce chose it as the final resting place for his heart. A small town slowly grew up around the abbey, which was attacked by Edward II of England in 1322, destroying large parts of the abbey. It was rebuilt with the help of Robert the Bruce. In 1385, the abbey was burnt down by the army of Richard II of England when he forced the army of David II of Scotland back to Edinburgh. The abbey was rebuilt over a period of 100 years . In 1544, when English troops again swept through Scotland, the abbey was badly damaged and was never fully restored. This led to its decline as an inhabited monastery. In 1590, the last monk of Melrose Abbey died. The abbey buildings survived a final attack by Oliver Cromwell, who had them bombarded during the English Civil War. In 1610, part of the abbey was made the parish church for the village of Melrose until a new church was built in the centre of the town 200 years later. Bernhard von Clairvaux, probably the most influential abbot the Cistercians ever had, wanted Cistercian buildings to be characterised by simplicity and austerity. This was intended to promote spiritual concentration, which should not be distracted by external ornamentation. Melrose Abbey is one of the rare exceptions to this rule, as it even contains many artistic sculptures. clear This gifted pig plays the bagpipes!

Melrose Abbey shares the fate of all the great abbeys in the border region between England and Scotland. Because of the many wars, they survive only as ruins. As early as the 6th century, there was an older abbey dedicated to St Aidan about two miles east of the current monastery. It was destroyed by Kenneth I of Scotland in 839. Melrose Abbey was built in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of the Scottish King David I. The monastery was a daughter foundation of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire from the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The abbey became the mother church of the order in Scotland. Robert the Bruce chose it as the final resting place for his heart. A small town slowly grew up around the abbey, which was attacked by Edward II of England in 1322, destroying large parts of the abbey. It was rebuilt with the help of Robert the Bruce. In 1385, the abbey was burnt down by the army of Richard II of England when he forced the army of David II of Scotland back to Edinburgh. The abbey was rebuilt over a period of 100 years . In 1544, when English troops again swept through Scotland, the abbey was badly damaged and was never fully restored. This led to its decline as an inhabited monastery. In 1590, the last monk of Melrose Abbey died. The abbey buildings survived a final attack by Oliver Cromwell, who had them bombarded during the English Civil War. In 1610, part of the abbey was made the parish church for the village of Melrose until a new church was built in the centre of the town 200 years later. Bernhard von Clairvaux, probably the most influential abbot the Cistercians ever had, wanted Cistercian buildings to be characterised by simplicity and austerity. This was intended to promote spiritual concentration, which should not be distracted by external ornamentation. Melrose Abbey is one of the rare exceptions to this rule, as it even contains many artistic sculptures. clear

Melrose Abbey shares the fate of all the great abbeys in the border region between England and Scotland. Because of the many wars, they survive only as ruins. As early as the 6th century, there was an older abbey dedicated to St Aidan about two miles east of the current monastery. It was destroyed by Kenneth I of Scotland in 839. Melrose Abbey was built in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of the Scottish King David I. The monastery was a daughter foundation of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire from the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The abbey became the mother church of the order in Scotland. Robert the Bruce chose it as the final resting place for his heart. A small town slowly grew up around the abbey, which was attacked by Edward II of England in 1322, destroying large parts of the abbey. It was rebuilt with the help of Robert the Bruce. In 1385, the abbey was burnt down by the army of Richard II of England when he forced the army of David II of Scotland back to Edinburgh. The abbey was rebuilt over a period of 100 years . In 1544, when English troops again swept through Scotland, the abbey was badly damaged and was never fully restored. This led to its decline as an inhabited monastery. In 1590, the last monk of Melrose Abbey died. The abbey buildings survived a final attack by Oliver Cromwell, who had them bombarded during the English Civil War. In 1610, part of the abbey was made the parish church for the village of Melrose until a new church was built in the centre of the town 200 years later. Bernhard von Clairvaux, probably the most influential abbot the Cistercians ever had, wanted Cistercian buildings to be characterised by simplicity and austerity. This was intended to promote spiritual concentration, which should not be distracted by external ornamentation. Melrose Abbey is one of the rare exceptions to this rule, as it even contains many artistic sculptures. clear

Melrose Abbey shares the fate of all the great abbeys in the border region between England and Scotland. Because of the many wars, they survive only as ruins. As early as the 6th century, there was an older abbey dedicated to St Aidan about two miles east of the current monastery. It was destroyed by Kenneth I of Scotland in 839. Melrose Abbey was built in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of the Scottish King David I. The monastery was a daughter foundation of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire from the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The abbey became the mother church of the order in Scotland. Robert the Bruce chose it as the final resting place for his heart. A small town slowly grew up around the abbey, which was attacked by Edward II of England in 1322, destroying large parts of the abbey. It was rebuilt with the help of Robert the Bruce. In 1385, the abbey was burnt down by the army of Richard II of England when he forced the army of David II of Scotland back to Edinburgh. The abbey was rebuilt over a period of 100 years . In 1544, when English troops again swept through Scotland, the abbey was badly damaged and was never fully restored. This led to its decline as an inhabited monastery. In 1590, the last monk of Melrose Abbey died. The abbey buildings survived a final attack by Oliver Cromwell, who had them bombarded during the English Civil War. In 1610, part of the abbey was made the parish church for the village of Melrose until a new church was built in the centre of the town 200 years later. Bernhard von Clairvaux, probably the most influential abbot the Cistercians ever had, wanted Cistercian buildings to be characterised by simplicity and austerity. This was intended to promote spiritual concentration, which should not be distracted by external ornamentation. Melrose Abbey is one of the rare exceptions to this rule, as it even contains many artistic sculptures. clear

Melrose Abbey shares the fate of all the great abbeys in the border region between England and Scotland. Because of the many wars, they survive only as ruins. As early as the 6th century, there was an older abbey dedicated to St Aidan about two miles east of the current monastery. It was destroyed by Kenneth I of Scotland in 839. Melrose Abbey was built in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of the Scottish King David I. The monastery was a daughter foundation of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire from the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The abbey became the mother church of the order in Scotland. Robert the Bruce chose it as the final resting place for his heart. A small town slowly grew up around the abbey, which was attacked by Edward II of England in 1322, destroying large parts of the abbey. It was rebuilt with the help of Robert the Bruce. In 1385, the abbey was burnt down by the army of Richard II of England when he forced the army of David II of Scotland back to Edinburgh. The abbey was rebuilt over a period of 100 years . In 1544, when English troops again swept through Scotland, the abbey was badly damaged and was never fully restored. This led to its decline as an inhabited monastery. In 1590, the last monk of Melrose Abbey died. The abbey buildings survived a final attack by Oliver Cromwell, who had them bombarded during the English Civil War. In 1610, part of the abbey was made the parish church for the village of Melrose until a new church was built in the centre of the town 200 years later.

Melrose Abbey shares the fate of all the great abbeys in the border region between England and Scotland. Because of the many wars, they survive only as ruins. As early as the 6th century, there was an older abbey dedicated to St Aidan about two miles east of the current monastery. It was destroyed by Kenneth I of Scotland in 839. Melrose Abbey was built in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of the Scottish King David I. The monastery was a daughter foundation of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire from the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The abbey became the mother church of the order in Scotland. Robert the Bruce chose it as the final resting place for his heart. A small town slowly grew up around the abbey, which was attacked by Edward II of England in 1322, destroying large parts of the abbey. It was rebuilt with the help of Robert the Bruce. In 1385, the abbey was burnt down by the army of Richard II of England when he forced the army of David II of Scotland back to Edinburgh. The abbey was rebuilt over a period of 100 years . In 1544, when English troops again swept through Scotland, the abbey was badly damaged and was never fully restored. This led to its decline as an inhabited monastery. In 1590, the last monk of Melrose Abbey died. The abbey buildings survived a final attack by Oliver Cromwell, who had them bombarded during the English Civil War. In 1610, part of the abbey was made the parish church for the village of Melrose until a new church was built in the centre of the town 200 years later.

Melrose Abbey shares the fate of all the great abbeys in the border region between England and Scotland. Because of the many wars, they survive only as ruins. As early as the 6th century, there was an older abbey dedicated to St Aidan about two miles east of the current monastery. It was destroyed by Kenneth I of Scotland in 839. Melrose Abbey was built in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of the Scottish King David I. The monastery was a daughter foundation of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire from the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The abbey became the mother church of the order in Scotland. Robert the Bruce chose it as the final resting place for his heart. A small town slowly grew up around the abbey, which was attacked by Edward II of England in 1322, destroying large parts of the abbey. It was rebuilt with the help of Robert the Bruce. In 1385, the abbey was burnt down by the army of Richard II of England when he forced the army of David II of Scotland back to Edinburgh. The abbey was rebuilt over a period of 100 years . In 1544, when English troops again swept through Scotland, the abbey was badly damaged and was never fully restored. This led to its decline as an inhabited monastery. In 1590, the last monk of Melrose Abbey died. The abbey buildings survived a final attack by Oliver Cromwell, who had them bombarded during the English Civil War. In 1610, part of the abbey was made the parish church for the village of Melrose until a new church was built in the centre of the town 200 years later.

Cymer Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey that was founded in 1198 as a daughter monastery of Cwmhir Abbey and thus belonged to the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The Welsh favoured the cistercians because of their independence from the Anglo-Norman nobility and their expertise in taming wild wilderness. Though Cymer Abbey remained small and insignificant. It operated a stud farm. In 1388 there were only five monks left in the abbey. Only ruins of the abbey remain.

The Armenteira monastery was founded in 1149 by the noble Don Ero and joined the Cistercian order in 1162. It belonged to the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The monastery received donations from Alfonso VI and Ferdinand II. The abolition of the monastery in 1837 brought an end to the monastery, which fell into disrepair until a society of friends of the monastery was formed in 1963. In 1989, a community of Trappist nuns moved into the monastery. The church, begun around 1167, was completed in 1225. The nave in the shape of a Latin cross has three aisles. The cloister

The Armenteira monastery was founded in 1149 by the noble Don Ero and joined the Cistercian order in 1162. It belonged to the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The monastery received donations from Alfonso VI and Ferdinand II. The abolition of the monastery in 1837 brought an end to the monastery, which fell into disrepair until a society of friends of the monastery was formed in 1963. In 1989, a community of Trappist nuns moved into the monastery. The church, begun around 1167, was completed in 1225. The nave in the shape of a Latin cross has three aisles. The rose window

The Armenteira monastery was founded in 1149 by the noble Don Ero and joined the Cistercian order in 1162. It belonged to the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The monastery received donations from Alfonso VI and Ferdinand II. The abolition of the monastery in 1837 brought an end to the monastery, which fell into disrepair until a society of friends of the monastery was formed in 1963. In 1989, a community of Trappist nuns moved into the monastery. The church, begun around 1167, was completed in 1225. The nave in the shape of a Latin cross has three aisles. The portal

The Armenteira monastery was founded in 1149 by the noble Don Ero and joined the Cistercian order in 1162. It belonged to the filiation of the primary abbey of Clairvaux. The monastery received donations from Alfonso VI and Ferdinand II. The abolition of the monastery in 1837 brought an end to the monastery, which fell into disrepair until a society of friends of the monastery was formed in 1963. In 1989, a community of Trappist nuns moved into the monastery. The church, begun around 1167, was completed in 1225. The nave in the shape of a Latin cross has three aisles. The crossing is surmounted by a low crossing tower.

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". More changes have taken place. I would expect, that an abbey named "della Colomba" has a love for doves. I heard very load gunshots in erratic intervals, when I walked around the cloister. Then I found the cannon. It was installed to chase the flocks of doves away from the abbey´s roofs.

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". Maybe Bernard would have liked this carving (at least a little bit). Depicted in the center is (crowned) Mary, Jesus on her knees blesses the onlookers. They are flanked by (Cistercian) monks. Mary got very popular within the 12th century (see Senlis, Chartres..) - and Bernard was one of her strongest "supporters".

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". The monkey on the capital near the portal of the chapter room (previous upload) was already a surprise. Here is a second monkey, eating grapes (?) and bitten by snakes. To the right is a "Master of Beasts".

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". Bernard would probably horrified by this monkey, a mooning "monstruositas".

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". The portal of the monks chapter room open to the cloister, that is mirrored in the windowpane. Untypically for a Cistercian abbey is the architectural beauty - and the sculpted capitals.

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". The corners of the cloisters have (tripel!) knotted pillars. The abbey has an informative website (in Italian) www.chiaravalledellacolomba.it/index.php