Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: market-hall

Today Saint-Jean-de-Côle, a member of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" ("most beautiful villages of France"), has a population of only about 300. A priory was founded here (on Norman foundations) and the construction of the church started in 1086. The church, completed in the 12th century, has a very unusual plan (sometimes called "Byzantine"). There is a semicircular apse and a rectangular nave, that once was crowned by a dome, larger than thatone of St. Font in Perigueux. This dome was destroyed during the Hundred Years War and got rebuilt and collapsed again in 1787. Obviously the material was too heavy, as it collapsed again in 1860. Since then the church has the roof seen today. The apse once had three chapes, but only the two seen from this point, survived the times.

Today Saint-Jean-de-Côle, a member of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" ("most beautiful villages of France"), has a population of only about 300. A castle existed here already since the 11th century, when nearby a priory was founded. This castle got ruined when English troops seized the village in 1394 and settled here for 11 years, before French troops forced them out. The current castle was rebuilt from the end of the 15th century on, but suffered again, when in 1569 Saint-Jean-de-Côle was pillaged by the Protestants during the wars of religion . After the end of the war the castle got rebuilt again in a Renaissance style and a large wing was added in the 17rth century. Seen here are the castle, the market hall and a part of the former convent´s church, now parish church.

In medieval times Fanjeaux, located on a steep hill, was a pretty large village with a population of about 3000 (today 700). It was an important place during the Albigensian Crusade. Dominic Gúzman (future "Saint Dominic"), who preached against the Cathars had settled nearby and Simon de Montfort´s armee had the headquarters during the crusade here for five years. In 1355, during the Hundred Years` War, troops led by Edward of Woodstock (aka "The Black Prince", "Prince noir") conquered and destroyed Fanjeaux, that got rebuilt and strongly fortified by a surrounding wall and 14 (!) towers. Located in the center of Fanjeaux is this shady market-hall.

A convent existed in the valley of the River Orbieu already in the 7th century. In 779 Charlemagne sponsored the convent that developed to the wealthy and powerful Abbaye Sainte-Marie over the next centuries. Lagrasse, one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France" ("The most beautiful villages of France"), that grew around the abbey. has a population of about 550. The market hall is located in the center of the village.

Markets in French towns and villages are very important and often have long traditions. Many towns have old, timbered market halls. The large stones, forming the foundations of "Vieilles Halles" in Cozes, are from the 14th century. The wooden beams seen here are more than 500 years old.

.......When we returned we saw a lady walking up the cliff, a little donkey by her side, carrying the pack. After a while the lady and her donkey had reached the round market hall, where the donkey first produced quite an amount of - manure and after that ate all available flowers from the flowerboxes around.....