Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Christopher

Maria Hilf Assumptio, the parish church of Malta (pop. 2000), was erected 13th - 15th century. It seems, that the building was started in Romanesque, but completed in Gothic style. Like many churches in the alpine area, there is a large fresco outside, depicting Saint Christopher, patron saint for travellers. As Saint Christopher was a giant, most frescoes are large, this one is 7,50 m high. It was created around 1300 and uncovered and restored in 2002. Like anywhere else there are mythic creatures (eg mermaids) around Saint Christpher´s feet, but here this (exstinct!) "Malta-Mouse" looks pretty much like Disney´s "Micky Mouse". I remember having seen another "Malta Mouse" in Saint-Sauvant (France).

Maria Hilf Assumptio, the parish church of Malta (pop. 2000), was erected 13th - 15th century. It seems, that the building was started in Romanesque, but completed in Gothic style. Like many churches in the alpine area, there is a large fresco outside, depicting Saint Christopher, patron saint for travellers. As Saint Christopher was a giant, most frescoes are large, this one is 7,50 m high. It was created around 1300 and uncovered and restored in 2002. Like anywhere else there are mythic creatures (eg mermaids) around Saint Christpher´s feet, but here was a creature was found, that made it into the news.

St. Peter Mistail is the church of a former nunnery, located very secluded near the entrance to the "Schinschlucht", a 9kms long gorge. The building is (one of only two) Carolingian "three apses"-churches in Switzerland (Muestair is the second). It is known since 823, when it was mentioned in a letter to Louis the Pious. The nunnery existed here upto 1154. the church is owned by the parish of Alvaschein since the 14th century. The buildings of the convent got lost over the centuries. Archeologists proved in the 1960s/1970s, that the existing church was erected on the foundations of an even older one around 800. Even some Carolingian frescoes were found. That means it is about as old as the buildings in Muestair. The frescoes seen inside the church today are not Carolingian, but younger. A few older traces can be found behind the altar. The frescoe in the central apse is dated to the early 14th century and is Gothic. I am not sure about the frescoes on the northern wall, seen here. They differ clearly in style from the Gothic frescoes - and may be older than 14th century, but otoh the style reminds me on some late Byzantine icons from the Balcan. Sant Christopher is really huge. He is standing in a a river. There are lots of fish - and between his feet - a crowned mermaid.

St. Peter Mistail is the church of a former nunnery, located very secluded near the entrance to the "Schinschlucht", a 9kms long gorge. The building is (one of only two) Carolingian "three apses"-churches in Switzerland (Muestair is the second). It is known since 823, when it was mentioned in a letter to Louis the Pious. The nunnery existed here upto 1154. the church is owned by the parish of Alvaschein since the 14th century. The buildings of the convent got lost over the centuries. Archeologists proved in the 1960s/1970s, that the existing church was erected on the foundations of an even older one around 800. Even some Carolingian frescoes were found. That means it is about as old as the buildings in Muestair. The frescoes seen inside the church today are not Carolingian, but younger. A few older traces can be found behind the altar. The frescoe in the central apse is dated to the early 14th century and is Gothic. I am not sure about the frescoes on the northern wall, seen here. They differ clearly in style from the Gothic frescoes - and may be older than 14th century, but otoh the style reminds me on some late Byzantine icons from the Balcan. Sant Christopher is really huge.