Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: dove

Boppard (known in Roman times as Vicus Baudobriga) lies on the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. After the end of the Roman Empire the population continued to live in the former Roman fort, that in the 5th century became a Merovingian royal seat. A century later a predecessor of today's St. Severus Church was built from the remains of the abandoned Roman bath. In medieval times Boppard was often visited by the German kings, who then resided in the royal court. Excavations proofed that the early Christian church from the 6th century was a 9 × 32 meter church room with a small apse to the East. This church burnt down in the 10th century and got replaced by a smaller building. Around 1000 canons had formed a collegiate and cared for the pastoral needs. Today´s St. Severus church was erected in the 12th and 13th centuries. The two church towers date from the middle of the 12th century (the helmets are from the 17th century), the nave was built at the beginning of the 13th century and its likely completion is dated to 1225. The choir finally dates to around the year 1234. This gravestone, today displayed in the church, was found in 1973 during excavation work. It was cracked in two parts. It is dated to the 6th century - and reads HIC IN PACE Q[VIE]SCVNT BENEDICTVS / IACONIS BES[ON]TIO ET NEPTIS SVA / BENEDICTA PV[ELL]A IVSTICIOLA / OBIIT IVSTIC[I]OLA PVELLA VIII KA(LENDAS) / ET IACONISa) BESONTIO VIIb K(ALENDAS) APRI(LES) Here rest in peace the blessed deacon Besontio and his niece, the blessed girl Justiciola. The girl Justiciola died on the eighth and the deacon Besontio on the seventh (day) before the calendar of April.

The church "St. Martin und Maria", now used as the parish church of Sponheim, was part of an abbey, founded by Meginhard of Sponheim and his father. The abbey got consecrated in 1123, the first monks came from Mainz. After the Reformation the monks left the abbey. A try to reestablish monastic life here with the support of the Bursfelde Congregation ended unsuccessful. Another try ended in 1794, when the last monks fled the monastery from the approaching French troops. The first buildings of the monastary burnt down in 1156. The rebuilding process started soon after. The layout of the church is a Greek cross, what was never planned, but the nave never got completed. Johannes Trithemius was abbot here between 1483 and 1505. He was not liked by the monks, as he was preferred a very harsh monastic life. Johannes was very popular among the intellectual community in Germany as an lexicographer and historian. As an early cryptographer, he was one of the greatgrandfathers of Alan Turing. In 1516, he published the "Polygraphiae", containing a "tabula recta", a cornerstone of modern cryptography. Johannes Trithemius is still known for his (very) imaginative "story-telling". So he knew for sure the meaning of an eagle talking to a pigeon on it´s back..

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 Fontana Maggiore is located on the "Piazza IV Novembre" (ex "Piazza Grande") between the cathedral (background) and the Palazzo dei Priori (my POV). It was created between 1277 and 1278 by the famous sculptors Nicola Pisano and his son Giovanni Pisano, known for their works in Pisa and Siena. Once the place was occupied by the bishop´s citadel. After the demolition of the citadel, the fountain got erected here as a symbol of the free city. The Fontana Maggiore is considered one of the finest still existing medieval fountains. The fountain was the end of an aqueduct engineered by Benedictine monk Fra Bevignate. The water - since centuries - serves the thirsty pigeons, but the birds have to be skilful.

After a cold night..

The huge Gothic "Basilique Notre-Dame de Cléry-Saint-André" replaced a preceding church, destroyed by English troops during the Hundred Years' War in 1428. The building was funded by Charles VII (aka "Charles the Victorious", "Charles le Bien Servi") and Louis XI (aka "Louis the Prudent", "Louis the Spider"). Louis XI choose this church as his burial ground. He and his second wife Charlotte of Savoy are buried here. Nearby is the heart of their son Charles VIII (aka "Charles the Affable"). He died, at the age of 27, in 1498 as the result of an accident. Not only swallows love the flamboyant Gothic architecture (see previous upload). Doves like to dwell and breed here as well.

A church was erected here already within the 8th century. It was built by Saint Willibald, who was the first bishop of the Diocese of Eichstaett. Saint Willibald was born in England into a remarkable family. His father was Saint Richard of Wessex, his brother was Saint Winibald, his sister was Saint Walburga - and Saint Boniface (who founded the Diocese of Eichstaett) may have been his uncle. Willibald was a very travelled man, he has not only been in Rome, but as well visited the Holy Land. His shrine is in this cathedral. The cathedral seen today is 98 meters long. It was erected in Gothic style between 1256 and 1510 and so covers the Gothic style from the very beginning to it´s famboyant heyday. A detail from the nave, where in the shadow of the pillar an evil monkey strangles the white dove of peace.