Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Montréal

Montréal was in center of the "Pays Cathare" and in 1206 the town was the site of debates between Catholics and Cathars. The debates, initiated by Dominic of Osma (future "Saint Dominic"), were part of Pope Innocent III's program to convert the Cathars (back) to Catholicism. Dominic had no sucess. In 1209, during the Albigensian Crusade, Montréal was taken and razed by Simon de Montfort´s troops. After the crusade Montréal (and large parts of the Languedoc) became "Domaine royal", what meant these were directly possessed by the kings of France. In 1273 the erection of the new castle started - and probably the church seen here was built in a "Tolosan-Gothic" style at the same time. It was completed in 1318. From outside it looks a bit like a tiny cousin of Sainte-Cécile in Albi. www.collegiale-montreal-aude.fr/index.htm

Montréal was in center of the "Pays Cathare" and in 1206 the town was the site of debates between Catholics and Cathars. The debates, initiated by Dominic of Osma (future "Saint Dominic"), were part of Pope Innocent III's program to convert the Cathars (back) to Catholicism. Dominic had no sucess. In 1209, during the Albigensian Crusade, Montréal was taken and razed by Simon de Montfort´s troops. After the crusade Montréal (and large parts of the Languedoc) became "Domaine royal", what meant these were directly possessed by the kings of France. In 1273 the erection of the new castle started - and probably the church seen here was built in a "Tolosan-Gothic" style at the same time. It was completed in 1318. From outside it looks a bit like a tiny cousin of Sainte-Cécile in Albi. www.collegiale-montreal-aude.fr/index.htm

Montréal was in the center of the "Pays Cathare" and in 1206 the site of debates between Catholics and Cathars. The debates, initiated by Dominic of Osma (future "Saint Dominic"), were part of Pope Innocent III's program to convert the Cathars (back) to Catholicism. Dominic had no sucess. In 1209, during the Albigensian Crusade, Montréal was taken and razed by Simon de Montfort´s troops. After the crusade Montréal (and large parts of the Languedoc) became "Domaine royal", what meant these were directly possessed by the kings of France. In 1273 the erection of the new castle started - and probably the church seen here was built in a "Tolosan-Gothic" style at the same time. It was completed in 1318. From outside it looks a bit like a tiny cousin of Sainte-Cécile in Albi. www.collegiale-montreal-aude.fr/index.htm

Today Montréal is a small village (pop. 200), but here was already a fortified settlement, when the Normans raided the area and pillaged the place in 888. From the 11th century on here was a castle. Anseric I, Seigneur de Montréal, obviously listened to Bernard de Clairvaux, who preached the Second Crusade at near Vezelay in 1146. Returning home from the crusade Anseric I founded a collegiate and commissioned the erection of the collegiate church, seen here. The church was completed around 1170 by Anseric II. The convent existed upto the French Revolution. During the Revolution, the tympanum got destroyed and when for a year, the church served as a "Temple de la Raison". The according inscription is fading over the doors, where once the tympanum was. Today church serves the parish. Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was impressed by the church, built during the transition from Romanesque to Gothic style, and cared for the restauration in the first half of the 19th century. Inside the former collegiate church are some extraordinary choir stalls, carved in 1522. I wonder how they survived the time, when this was a "Temple de la Raison" during the Revolution. Not all of the carvings have biblical scenes. Here are two clerics having a couple of large aperitifs. Prosit! Cheers! Santé!

Today Montréal is a small village (pop. 200), but here was already a fortified settlement, when the Normans raided the area and pillaged the place in 888. From the 11th century on here was a castle. Anseric I, Seigneur de Montréal, obviously listened to Bernard de Clairvaux, who preached the Second Crusade at near Vezelay in 1146. Returning home from the crusade Anseric I founded a collegiate and commissioned the erection of the collegiate church, seen here. The church was completed around 1170 by Anseric II. The convent existed upto the French Revolution. During the Revolution, the tympanum got destroyed and when for a year, the church served as a "Temple de la Raison". The according inscription is fading over the doors, where once the tympanum was. Today church serves the parish. Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was impressed by the church, built during the transition from Romanesque to Gothic style, and cared for the restauration in the first half of the 19th century. Inside the former collegiate church are some extraordinary choir stalls, carved in 1522. I wonder how they survived the time, when this was a "Temple de la Raison" during the Revolution. Here is the "Adoration of the Magi".

Today Montréal is a small village (pop. 200), but here was already a fortified settlement, when the Normans raided the area and pillaged the place in 888. From the 11th century on here was a castle. Anseric I, Seigneur de Montréal, obviously listened to Bernard de Clairvaux, who preached the Second Crusade at near Vezelay in 1146. Returning home from the crusade Anseric I founded a collegiate and commissioned the erection of the collegiate church, seen here. The church was completed around 1170 by Anseric II. The convent existed upto the French Revolution. During the Revolution, the tympanum got destroyed and when for a year, the church served as a "Temple de la Raison". The according inscription is fading over the doors, where once the tympanum was. Today church serves the parish. Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was impressed by the church, built during the transition from Romanesque to Gothic style, and cared for the restauration in the first half of the 19th century. He restored the nice portal. The polylobe arches seem influenced by Moorish architecture, a style, that was more common in Southern France. I learned, that the rose window, seen here, is one of the oldest of its kind in the whole of France.

Today Montréal is a small village (pop. 200), but here was already a fortified settlement, when the Normans raided the area and pillaged the place in 888. From the 11th century on here was a castle. Anseric I, Seigneur de Montréal, obviously listened to Bernard de Clairvaux, who preached the Second Crusade at near Vezelay in 1146. Returning home from the crusade Anseric I founded a collegiate and commissioned the erection of the collegiate church, seen here. The church was completed around 1170 by Anseric II. The convent existed upto the French Revolution. For a year, the church served as a "Temple de la Raison", the according inscription is fading over the portal, before it was converted into a parish church. Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was impressed by the church and cared for the restauration in the first half of the 19th century.