Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: mairie

In 990, Emma, the daughter of the Count of Blois, Theobald I, founded the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Pierre, which was known for growing Mediterranean plants such as olive trees, oranges and pomegranates from the original monastery in Italy. The monastery was destroyed during the French Revolution. The commune gives its name to the AOC wine-growing region. Almost exclusively red wine is grown on a vineyard area of 1368 hectares. The market hall belonged to the Benedictines of Bourgueil Abbey before being transferred to the Domaine Nationale in 1789. In 1810, an imperial decree confirmed the purchase of the market hall by the town of Bourgueil, but its poor condition prompted the commissioner of experts to recommend that it be rebuilt The municipality rejected this solution, but in 1823 part of the halls collapsed and reconstruction was unavoidable. The choice fell in favour of rebuilding a smaller building made of tuff. A stone that is found in large quantities in the region. The Mairie, built 1828, now form the end of the market hall.

A castle existed here already in 1073. This had to be rebuilt after 1449, as it got severely damaged during the 100 Years War. The perfectly restored Château de Jonzac meanwhile hosts the subprefecture and the mairie.

The 12th century church "Notre-Dame de Fleuriel" was once the seat of a priory, connected the abbey in Tournus. Now it is the parish church. It is known for the western portal. I had read, that it is one of the finest in the area of Bourbonnais. Well, the finer the work of art is, the more restauration and conservation it needs over the time. On this quiet sunday morning, I could even slip under the cover and have a closer look.- The French Tricolour on the right pinpoints the mairie and the post-office of Fleuriel. Note the oculus, that seems already influenced by the emerging gothic style.

Muenster, the cultural centre of Westphalia, is a city with a population of more than 250.000 of which nearly 50.000 are students at the University of Muenster. This surely helped Muenster to gain the status of the "bicycle capital of Germany". Charlemagne sent out St. Ludger in 792 to evangelise the area, so Ludger founded a school here and later was the first bishop of Muenster. During medieval times Muenster was a leading member of the Hanseatic League. The wealth can still be seen in the gothic architecture of the merchant´s houses. The devasting Thirty Years' War was ended here. Over a period of four years the parties negotiated here and at Osnabrueck (50kms to the north). Finally in 1648 the "Peace of Muenster" was signed in this town hall, part of what became known as the "Peace of Westphalia". Actually the treaty was signed in two places. Here and in the town hall of Osnabrueck. The "Peace of Westphalia" ended as well the "Eighty Years' War" between the Spanish empire - and some provinces of "Habsburg Netherlands". This created the independent "Republic of the Seven United Netherlands", today known as "Kingdom of the Netherlands". Actually most of the town hall was rebuilt after WWII, as not much was left after the bombings. The facade is original, as it had been removed in the 1940s and stored as a puzzle on a safe place. In case you will follow the shots I took in Muenster: This is the place, where the Muenster Rebellion ended, as here stood the scaffold in 1535.

The massive towers of the Château de Jonzac date back to the 16th and 17th century. A castle has existed here already in early medieval times. The ownership of the castle ended with the French Revolution, so meanwhile the buildings host the "mairie", a regional museum, the subprefecture - and (seen to the very left) the local police station.