Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: St. Gilles

The late Gothic church made of larch wood is one of the oldest wooden churches in Poland. The rood screen bears the date 1459. After a reconstruction in 1654 it was consecrated. Reconstructions took place in the first half of the 19th century. The church has a block structure, standing on a stone foundation and is reinforced on both sides. When the wooden church became too small for the parish, in 1906-1908 the western wall was demolished and a neo-Romanesque brick nave, seen here, was added. The wooden bell tower was also built around this time.

The late Gothic church made of larch wood is one of the oldest wooden churches in Poland. The rood screen bears the date 1459. After a reconstruction in 1654 it was consecrated. Reconstructions took place in the first half of the 19th century. The wooden church has a block structure, standing on a stone foundation and is reinforced on both sides. When the church became too small for the parish, in 1906-1908 the western wall was demolished and a neo-Romanesque brick nave was added.

The late Gothic church made of larch wood is one of the oldest wooden churches in Poland. The rood screen bears the date 1459. After a reconstruction in 1654, it was consecrated. Reconstructions took place in the first half of the 19th century. The wooden church has a block structure, standing on a stone foundation, and is reinforced on both sides. When the church became too small for the parish, in 1906-1908 the western wall was demolished and a neo-Romanesque brick nave was added.

The monastery St. Gilles, founded within the 7th century. A hermit lived here - with a hind. After Visigothic King Wamba had injured this hind during a hunt, he founded a monastry. St. Gilles was the first abbot there. St. Gilles was one of the most popular saints in medieval times, pilgrims flocked to his tomb in the crypt - and continued to Santiago from here. St. Gilles today is still one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. During the Wars of Religion the abbey and the church were totally destroyed and burnt down, what was in 1562. 1622 the campanile got demolished. After that only the crypt, part of the clocher, some eastern walls of the choir existed. The portal, which reminds on roman Triumph-arches, got demolished after the french revolution, - but puzzled together again within the 19th century, with material found all around. The precise knowledge about many details was lost, so in some parts it still is an unfinshed puzzle. For sure some parts are still missing - and this is visible. Probably different masters have worked here, as there are different styles in carving on this portal. Here some pretty exotic animals. A skinny dromedary to the right and two monkeys in chains on the left. The carver had a very creative idea: one leg of the monkey in the middle reaches over the frame. Behind them (this is a "3D-puzzle") a bust sculpture of a saint. Maybe this is only the top part of a "full" figure - and the second part is lost. It is placed so far in the background, that I do not believe, that this is the original place. Though there are letters on the nimbus, I could not find out the name of the saint.

In a niche of the crypt is the grave of Pierre de Castelnau, his remains were burnt during the Regilious Wars in 1562, so it is probably empty. - 1202 he was appointed by Pope Innocent III. as a legat for the suppression of the Cathar heresy in Southern France. What he did, he suspended the bishops of Toulouse and Béziers and excommunicated Raymond VI. of Toulouse. Pierre de Castelnau was assassinated on 15.01.1208, allegedly by an agent of Raymond, in the nearby village of Trinquetaille. This assassination triggered the Albigensian Crusade, as now Innocent III declared a crusade, offering the lands of the Cathars to any French nobleman willing to take up arms. This War lasted for 20 years. After that decades many villages and towns were totally destroyed and vast areas in Southern France were depopulated.

The huge crypt of the former benedictine monastry St. Gilles. In the foreground the tomb of St. Gilles. Three walking sticks are placed there, as still pilgrims flock here - as they did in the middle ages. This crypt has not been destroyed during the Wars of Religion and the Revolution, but was used as a cellar. The most walls around are covered with graffittis dating back to that "secular" times.

The immense portal of the former benedictine monastry St. Gilles, founded within the 7th century. A hermit of noble, greek descendance (later St. Gilles) lived here - with a hind. After Visigothic King Wamba had injured this hind during a hunt (other legends tell, he injured St. Gilles himself) Wamba founded a monastry - and St. Gilles was the first abbot there. St. Gilles was one of the most popular saints in the middle ages, pilgrims flocked to his tomb in the crypt of this church - and continued to Santiago from here. St. Gilles today is still one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. During the Wars of Religion the abbey and the church were totally destroyed and burnt down, what was in 1562. 1622 the campanile got demolished. After that only the crypt, part of the clocher, some eastern walls of the choir existed. The portal, which reminds on roman Triumph-arches (like St. Trophime, Arles) got demolished after the french revolution, - but puzzled together again within the 19th century, when the parish church was built.. This may not be the original version, but even though, it is a masterpiece.

Crossing the Rhône´s western arm, Le Petit Rhône, via a modern bridge and so leaving the Camargue and entering Gard. On the horizont the water tower of St. Gilles.