Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: arch

Alleaume was once the gallo-roman settlement "Alauna", of which some ruins still exist. Meanwhile this is a suburb of Valognes. The parish church Notre Dame was erected within the 13th century but strongly remodeled in the 18th century. Some spolia of the Romanesque church got reused - and so can still be find. This relief is one of the old spolia. There is an "Agnus Dei" with a cross on the right side. On the left side are two persons, sitting under arches - and there is a bird. This bird holds a branch. Or the branch is a "sing-bubble" (aka "tweet"). The left person is barefoot and holds a large key, so this can only be Saint Peter. His neigbour is probably an apostle as well.

The small village of Fontaine-Henry is known for the chateau here, but the local parish church, erected within the 12th century, is well worth a visit as well. "Nativité-de-Notre-Dame" consists out of very different parts. The older, eastern part is lavishly decorated and reminds strongly on "Saint Quen" the nearby Rots (10kms east). This arch eg looks like a twin of an arch in Rots.

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. Here is a detail of Saint-Pierre´s southern portal, that has a wonderful tympanum and pretty undamaged tympanum, created 1130/40 (see previous upload). Like the portal of the Abbaye Saint-Pierre in Moissac, the sides of the porch have carvings. These carvings are very weathered and were probably vandalized. This is the porch´s right side. It is hard to find out, what scene is seen here. I see Christ (cross-nimbus) and a devil, so this may be the Temptation. Again here are interesting architectural details. The tower to the left has an inscription, but I could not read it.

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. Here is a detail of Saint-Pierre´s southern portal, that has a wonderful tympanum and pretty undamaged tympanum, created 1130/40. Like the portal of the Abbaye Saint-Pierre in Moissac, the sides of the porch have carvings. These carvings are very weathered and were probably vandalized. This is the porch´s left side. It is hard to find out, what scene is seen here. Interesting are the bits of architecture. There are three arches and two towers on the left (looks like a church) - and a large, elaborate arch covers the couple and the animals to the right. Daniel in the Lion´s Den? The angel to the left carried Habakuk? And now Habakuk sits next to Daniel in the Den? Daniel petting a lion on his lap?

"Santa María la Real" is one of the highlights for all people following the "Camino Aragonés" - since about 800 years. The facade is impressing it may take hours, to find out the many details. I stayed an extra day, when I had reached the town, just to see the shadows movig over the carvings. A church did exist here already in 1131 next to the bridge crossing the river Aragon. It was transferred by Alfonso I to the "Knights Hospitaller" (aka "Order of Saint John", later "Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta"). The apse is the oldest part of the structure and probably dates back to that time. The nave and the breathtaking Southern Portal of Santa María la Real were created late 12th/13th century. I have uploaded a "total overview" earlier and will now focus on some details. Below the "Last Judgement" are the Virgin and the twelve apostles, all standing under arches. The masterly carving style is late-Romanesque and very elegant. All pillars and capitals differ, some pillars are even angled. A perfect piece of miniature architecture. The apostles (note the attributes) are gesticulating and seem to communicate. (Pretty large) Jesus, sitting in the crowned Virgin´s knees, is blessing the onlookers.