Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint-Jean-Baptiste

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, which was rebuilt in the 19th century in the neo-Gothic style while preserving the 14th century choir. It is said that a thorn from the crown of Christ.has been offered by Charlemagne to the authorities of Condatis, the future Libourne. It has been kept in Libourne since 1609. The nave

Since 1554, when the Reformation spread from Bern to Grandson, this church is the Evangelical Reformed parish church of the small, quaint town at the banks of the Lake Neuchâtel. Most of the structure seen today was erected after 1178, when the lords of Grandson had founded a Benedictian priory,dependent on La Chaise-Dieu in the Auvergne, about 400kms southwest. Inside the nave facing east to the gothic choir. It seems, that the iconoclasms of the Swiss Reformation did not harm the church, all capitels are "in situ" and intact. Most of the column shafts are - Roman! They were probably hauled to Grandson for recycling from the vast ruins of Aventicum the Roman capital of the Swiss area during Vespasian´s time. Today "Avenches" is a small town about 40kms east on the other side of the lake. The church is extremly well preserved and very tastefully furnished. This is by far the strangest (and so most interesting) capital in Grandson. While most other capitals are carved very masterly, this one seems rough. Only three sides are visible. It is populated by a group of strange, grimacing people, who show their teeth or tongue. This makes clear, that the person is not performing a strange bavarian dance. He is a "spinario", trying to pull a thorn out of his naked foot. Ray ("adfinem") recently uploaded a very elegant "spinario" and published some excellent information, so follow the link below - and compare them.

In medieval times a priory may have been located, where the parish church is now. "Saint-Jean-Baptiste" was erected end of the 16th and enlarged in the 17th and 18th century.

In medieval times a priory may have been located, where the parish church is now. "Saint-Jean-Baptiste" was erected end of the 16th and enlarged in the 17th and 18th century.