Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: door

In 1173 Countess Oria de Pallars founded the monastery with the support of the Bishop of Huesca, Esteve de Sant Martí, who had previously been the abbot of the Cistercian Monastery of Poblet. . The Cistercian convent in Casbas de Huesca, though very small, existed until 2004 it was dissolved.

The history of Wroclaw dates back more than a thousand years. At various times, it has been part of the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Habsburg monarchy of Austria, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Germany. Wrocław became part of Poland again in 1945 as part of the result of extensive border changes and expulsions after WWII. In 990 Mieszko I of Poland conquered Silesia and Wrocław. The town became a commercial center. In the 12th century Polish, Bohemian, Jewish, Walloon, and German communities existed here. Wroclaw was devastated in 1241 during the first Mongol invasion of Poland. In the 13th century due to migration from Saxony and Bavaria, Wroclaw got germanised. The population adopted the German language and culture and the name changed to Breslau. Between 1342 and 1344 two fires destroyed large parts of the city, which was a part of the Bohemian Kingdom at that time. Charles IV`s , successors Wenceslaus and Sigismund became involved in a long-lasting feud with the city and its magistrate, culminating in the revolt in 1418 when local craftsmen killed seven councilors. After the city had defeated the Bohemian Hussites the city was besieged by a combined Polish-Czech force in 1474, however, a ceasefire was signed, according to which the city remained under Hungarian rule. The Reformation reached Breslau already in 1518, and in 1523 the town council unanimously appointed a new pastor and thus introduced the Reformation in Breslau. In 1526, the Habsburg monarchy of Austria inherited Bohemia, Silesia, and the city of Breslau. In 1609 German emperor Rudolf II granted the free exercise of church services to all Bohemian and Silesian Protestants. In the following Thirty Years' War, the city suffered badly. It was occupied by Saxon and Swedish troops and lost 18,000 of its 40,000 residents to the plague. The Counter-Reformation had started with Rudolf II who encouraged Catholic orders to settle in Breslau. The dominance of the German population under the Habsburg rule in the city became more visible, while the Polish population diminished in numbers. After Frederick the Great besieged the city for a year, it surrendered in 1741. In 1742, Queen Maria Theresa handed over Silesia to the Prussian king. - At the end of the 12th century, the family of the governor Peter Włast (Piotr Włostowic) funded the construction of a Romanesque church on this small island, hence its name on the Sand. The Romanesque church was demolished in the 14th century to make way for a larger Gothic church, built in brick between 1334 and 1430 according to the plans of the architect Master Peschel. The nave, lit by huge windows, is 78 meters long. The Gothic vaults rise to 24 meters high. The church was sacked by Swedish troops in 1632 during the Thirty Years' War. During the Seven Years' War, the Prussians used the church as an ammunition depot. When at the end of WWII the Soviet troops advanced in 1945, the Sandkirche and the buildings served as headquarters for the German army, which was conscious of fighting a dead-end battle. During the fighting, most of Breslau's historical monuments were destroyed or severely damaged. The Sandkirche also burned down, only the walls were still standing. The German population was expelled after the war and replaced by Polish refugees from the east. In 1946, the reconstruction began, which was based on the old Gothic plans and also reconstructed the ceiling vaults in their old form. The interior furnishing of the church is composed of surviving elements from other destroyed churches in the city and the diocesan museum. Two crocodile-mouthed monsters hold the ring on the old door.

The monastery was founded in 1179 by Bishop Gedeon of Krakow as the 25th daughter monastery of the primary abbey of Morimond, from which the convent also originated. The church, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Florian, was completed before the Tartar invasion of 1241. This invasion and subsequent Mongol raids destroyed most of the monastery, and most of the present Romanesque buildings were rebuilt in the late 13th century[4]. The Cistercian abbey flourished from agriculture and metal mining. Another series of invasions, culminating in that of George II Rákóczi of Transylvania, left the abbey plundered and burned. The monastery was finally rebuilt in 1696. After the Congress of Vienna it was dissolved in 1819 and the church was transformed into a parish church. In 1951 the Cistercians from the Mogiła Abbey were finally able to return to Wąchock Monastery, and in 1964 the parish regained its former status as an abbey. Large parts of the monastery got destroyed in medieval times. Most of what Romanesque work stands today was rebuilt in the late 13th century. A detail of the church door.

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. Today Matera has a population of about 60.000, who live in the city "above" the sassi. The Matera Cathedral (Cattedrale della Madonna della Bruna e di Sant'Eustachio) was built on the highest point between the two sassi, on the site of the ancient Church of Saint Eustace. The erection in Apulian Romanesque style started in 1230 at the behest of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, Holy Roman Emperor and Count of Matera. A few years earlier Pope Innocent III had raised Matera to the rank of archdiocese in union with Acerenza. It was completed in 1270. Unlike the interior which has undergone several transformations over time, the exterior retains its original form almost intact. This side portal, protected by two devouring lions and two (decapitated) eagles is even more complex that the other one (prev. upload).

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. Today Matera has a population of about 60.000, who live in the city "above" the sassi. The Matera Cathedral (Cattedrale della Madonna della Bruna e di Sant'Eustachio) was built on the highest point between the two sassi, on the site of the ancient Church of Saint Eustace. The erection in Apulian Romanesque style started in 1230 at the behest of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, Holy Roman Emperor and Count of Matera. A few years earlier Pope Innocent III had raised Matera to the rank of archdiocese in union with Acerenza. It was completed in 1270. Unlike the interior which has undergone several transformations over time, the exterior retains its original form almost intact. Two monks guard this lavishly decorated door. The right monk is still pretty undamaged, while the left one has lost both hands and his head.

Maulbronn Monastery was founded in 1147. The church, built in a style transitional from Romanesque to Gothic, was consecrated in 1178. Most other buildings followed within the 13th century. The complex is believed to be one of the the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery complex north of the Alpes (some claim "in Europe"). Since 1993 Maulbronn is part of the Unesco World Heritage. After the consecration, a large narthex was added to the church. This narthex ("Paradies") is done in a really remarkable architectural, early gothic style. The narthex was planned and built before 1200 probably by a genius, who had experiences from Northern France and Burgundy. The monastery had all the cistercian connections, so it was easy to find a "top architect". His name is not known, so the name given to him by art historians is "Meister des Maulbronner Paradieses" (Master of Maulbronn Paradise). He created not only the narthex, but as well parts of the cloister and the refectorium, so we will meet him again. A close up of the central portal´s wooden doors. Great work of a medieval artist blacksmith. When the doors were fabricated, the wood was covered with leather. Over the more than 800 years, the leather "weathered" away, where the sweaty hands of the many visitors pushed the door open. A little higher the (today) whitish leather is still in place.

Maulbronn Monastery was founded in 1147. The church, built in a style transitional from Romanesque to Gothic, was consecrated in 1178. Most other buildings followed within the 13th century. The complex is believed to be one of the the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery complex north of the Alpes (some claim "in Europe"). Since 1993 Maulbronn is part of the Unesco World Heritage. After the consecration, a large narthex was added to the church. This narthex ("Paradies") is done in a really remarkable architectural, early gothic style. The narthex was planned and built before 1200 probably by a genius, who had experiences from Northern France and Burgundy. The monastery had all the cistercian connections, so it was easy to find a "top architect". His name is not known, so the name given to him by art historians is "Meister des Maulbronner Paradieses" (Master of Maulbronn Paradise). He created not only the narthex, but as well parts of the cloister and the refectorium, so we will meet him again. Another close up of the wooden door. The medieval artist blacksmith, who created the iron works in 1200, seems to have had a certain sense of humour. He added this little bird. Knowing that Cistercians always had lots of ponds around the monasteries and were experts in fish farming, this is -maybe- a duck.