Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: libra

"Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is a church outside of Aulnay, in the center of an old graveyard. The setting has not changed for centuries. For the pilgrims of the 12th century this church was a major halt - and it still is for all the tourists... A predecessing church „Saint-Pierre-de-la-Tour“ had been here, that, when the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella got more and more popular, was obviously too small, as Aulnay was conveniently situated between Poitiers and Saintes on the Via Turonensis. A new, larger church was needed, so the place was handed over to the chapter of the cathedral in Poitiers. The canons then probably planned this church, that was erected from about 1130/1140 on. "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" (here seen from east) is a gem of the "style saintongeais". For Peter Strafford ("Romanesque Churches Of France") this is "one of the best examples of late Romanesque architecture in what used to be Aquitaine". - After having found many "similarities" between Saint-Peter and the church in nearby Salles-lès-Aulnay - I had the impression, that I had seen this portal of the western facade "somewhere else". At that day I could not remember, but some days later I walked through Fenioux - and found it. So I´ll add some more details. (AUGUS)TUS LIBRA SEPTEMBER - I have uploaded many photos already taken during previous visits. So I will now add only a few.

"Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is a church outside of Aulnay, in the center of an old graveyard. The setting has not changed for centuries. For the pilgrims of the 12th century this church was a major halt - and it still is for all the tourists... A predecessing church „Saint-Pierre-de-la-Tour“ had been here, that, when the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella got more and more popular, was obviously too small, as Aulnay was conveniently situated between Poitiers and Saintes on the Via Turonensis. A new, larger church was needed, so the place was handed over to the chapter of the cathedral in Poitiers. The canons then probably planned this church, that was erected from about 1130/1140 on. "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" (here seen from east) is a gem of the "style saintongeais". For Peter Strafford ("Romanesque Churches Of France") this is "one of the best examples of late Romanesque architecture in what used to be Aquitaine". - After having found many "similarities" between Saint-Peter and the church in nearby Salles-lès-Aulnay - I had the impression, that I had seen this portal of the western facade "somewhere else". At that day I could not remember, but some days later I walked through Fenioux - and found it. So I´ll add some more details. VIRGO (?) AUGUSTUS LI(BRA) - I have uploaded many photos already taken during previous visits. So I will now add only a few.

The oldest part of the parish church is a funerary tower (Tour Funéraire), seen left. It is difficult to date the tower, as the tower got obviously renovated and reconstructed before the Romanesque church was added within the 12th century. Most scholars date the tower to the early 11th century, but archaeologists talk about a building here existing already within the 4th/5th century. Anyway - here was the tomb of Saint Restitut, patron saint for people having poor eyesight and even Louis XI (aka "Louis the Prudent", "Universal Spider") once came on pilgrimage Saint-Restitut. The legend tells, that in his younger days Saint Restitut´s name was Sidonius. He was blind... John 9:1-7 "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. (...........) After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”. So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." The name was changed to Restitutus then. He became a disciple of Jesus and later left the Holy Land with the Thee Marys, Lazaraus et al. on the boat with "neither sail nor rudder." They all reached Saintes Maries de la Mer, where the group split. Restitutus walked up the valley of the Rhone to become the first bishop of Tricastin. He resided in St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - and got buried here. A frieze runs around the three sides of the tower. Here are three frames (see previous upload for more details). Zodiac symbols: "Cancer" (Crab), "Libra" (Scales, "Gemini" (Twins).

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.

The late afternoon sun shines on "Sainte-Croix", the church of the former "Abbatiale Sainte-Croix". The abbey was founded in Merovingian times just south of Bordeaux. The exact year is unknown, but it was mentioned already in 679. The abbey was destroyed by the Saracens around 730 and rebuilt at the end of the century . During the 9th century the Normans raided the area and the abbey got devastated again. Local nobility supported the rebuilding of the abbey by donations and privileges. The abbey church, built in eleventh/twelfth century, got renovated and rebuilt during the 19th century by Paul Abadie, later known as the architect of "Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre" and strongly influenced by Viollet-le-Duc. His works (eg Saint-Front, Périgueux, St. Pierre, Angoulême) are disputed today, as he "re-created" structures and added details. While the outer of the large archivolts depict the "Elders of the Apocalypse" (see previous uploads), the inner one has the signs of the Zodiac and the "Monthly Labors". The person with the scale stands for Libra.

Fenioux, a small village with a population of less than 200, has this wonderful parish church "Notre-Dame de l’Assomption". Once the church was dedicated to "Saint-Savinien" and "Saint Pierre". It was built in the 12th century, about the same time, when Aulnay (27kms northeast) was under construction. The church was erected over a Carolingian oratory from the 9th century, of which some parts were integrated into the new building - and so still exist around the choir. The large, western facade, with its five archivolts is breathtaking. Though vandalized during the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution, when many sculptures here lost their heads, this is still extraordenary. There are five semicircular archivolts - and ten capitals. The inner archivolt is covered with symmetric foliage in the "traditonal style saintongue". The second archivolt has the virtues defeating the vices, the third one is populated by six angels flanking an Agnus Dei. The parable of the "Wise and Foolish Virgins" can be seen on the fourth - and the fifth archivolt has a complete zodiac - and the names of the corresponding months. Here (VIR)GO - LIBR(A) and AVGVSTV(S)