Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Toulouse

The Basilica of St. Sernin in Toulouse, built from red bricks about 1080 - 1120, is the largest still existing Romanesque church in France. It once belonged to the abbey of St. Sernin, that had existed here already within the 5th century near the grave of St. Sernin (aka "Saint Saturnin"). The church, replaced a smaller, carolingian structure, and was erected to accommodate the many pilgrims, as Toulouse has always been a very important stop on the way to Santiago de Compostella. The "Via Tolosana", one of the many ancient pilgrim routes, was named after Toulouse. It is said, that pilgrims, who, for what reasons ever, could not make it to Santiago, tried at least to reach St. Sernin in Toulouse. This capital, seen from the nave, depicts two monkeys (?), bending the bow of a very large crossbow, with great effort. A kind of "cupido" stands in the center, holding the arrows.

The Basilica of St. Sernin in Toulouse, built from red bricks about 1080 - 1120, is the largest still existing Romanesque church in France. It once belonged to the abbey of St. Sernin, that had existed here already within the 5th century near the grave of St. Sernin (aka "Saint Saturnin"). The church, replaced a smaller, carolingian structure, and was erected to accommodate the many pilgrims, as Toulouse has always been a very important stop on the way to Santiago de Compostella. The "Via Tolosana", one of the many ancient pilgrim routes, was named after Toulouse. It is said, that pilgrims, who, for what reasons ever, could not make it to Santiago, tried at least to reach St. Sernin in Toulouse. The western facade of the Basilica is under renovation and reconstruction since long time. It is hidden under scaffoldings and covers. Only some capitals are visible. Here are some monkeys in a jungle of vines. This creatures looks like howler monkeys, but as howler monkeys are native to South and Central American forests, it would be more as a surprise to find them on a Romanesque capital.

The Basilica of St. Sernin in Toulouse, built from red bricks about 1080 - 1120, is the largest still existing Romanesque church in France. It once belonged to the abbey of St. Sernin, that had existed here already within the 5th century near the grave of St. Sernin (aka "Saint Saturnin"). The church, replaced a smaller, carolingian structure, and was erected to accommodate the many pilgrims, as Toulouse has always been a very important stop on the way to Santiago de Compostella. The "Via Tolosana", one of the many ancient pilgrim routes, was named after Toulouse. It is said, that pilgrims, who, for what reasons ever, could not make it to Santiago, tried at least to reach St. Sernin in Toulouse. The western facade of the Basilica is under renovation and reconstruction since long time. It is hidden under scaffoldings and covers. Only some capitals are visible. Here are some monkeys in a jungle of vines.

The Basilica of St. Sernin in Toulouse, built about 1080 - 1120, is the largest still existing Romanesque church in France. It was built, to accommodate the many pilgrims, as Toulouse has always been a very important stop on the way to Santiago de Compostella. It is said, that pilgrims, who, for what reasons ever, could not make it to Santiago, tried at least to reach St. Sernin in Toulouse. I had been here before, but this time I had reached the place by foot, what makes quite a difference. The church seemed larger than ever - and I decided to stay in Toulouse over the weekend.

As I spent the long weekend in Toulouse, I had time to visit the "Couvent Des Jacobins" again (as well as other churches). This is a large monastery, built for (and by) the Dominicans from 1230 on. Part of the monastery is the "Eglise des Jacobins". This church is for me one of the most outstanding, breathtaking gothic structures, I have ever been in. The 80 meters long church has one row of pillars in the center. Each pillar is 22 meters high, the "palmiers" even reach 28 meters. Since 1385 the church held a shrine, containing the relics of Thomas d'Aquin. These relics were transfered to Sant Sernin during the French Revolution. In 1974 the golden shrine, containing the relics, returned to the "Eglise des Jacobins" - and can be seen here.

Houseboats of all shapes, colours and sizes line the Canal du Midi in Toulouse. Some of them have even gardens "on deck", where vegetables grow.

At a self-service-lock of the Canal du Midi, I met these Kiwis, who cruise the French canals since a decade. They had sold their house in Kerikeri to buy the TIKI, seen here. Kerikeri is a rural town near New Zealand´s Bay of Islands, where, close to famous "stonehouse", I had spent some time about a "century" ago. What a wonderful surprise! What a mindblowing chat! World is such a small place! Pauly Fuemana sat in my ear singing the best known Kiwi-hit ever "How Bizarre". www.myvideo.de/watch/1397643/OMC_How_Bizarre

This carving is in the choir of the Basilica of St. Sernin. Christ in a mandorla. In the corner the symbols of the four evangelists. Some carvings in Saint-Sernin are very old. There are surely Influenced by artists from the Byzantine Empire, that were often employed, as they were very experienced. Some of them worked as far north as Paderborn, Westphalia: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4352287154/