Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Parthenay-le-Vieux

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. During the Wars of Religion the priory got ransacked and the monks had to leave. The church did survive comparably undamaged. The apse of Saint-Pierre and the wonderful octogonal crossing tower.

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. During the Wars of Religion the priory got ransacked and the monks had to leave. The church did survive comparably undamaged, but the entrance to the chapter house, seen here, is all what is left of the priory´s cloister. The arches were hidden in the stonewalls, but discovered in 1928. The church and the remaining buildings are all privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup!

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! All pillars of the crossing have carved capitals. This one is decorated with two lions, LEONES is written up there. They can probably be seen, just like the capricorns (see previous upload), as a zodiac sign.

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! All pillars of the crossing have carved capitals. This one is decorated with two winged hybrid creatures, havig a goat´s top and a snake´s bottom. CAPRICORNIUS is written up there, so they are "sea goats" (half goat/half fish) - a zodiac sign. Or - (again!) they refer (a bit) to the Mélusine tale, like the ladies in the bathtubes and the mermaids may. This legendary water nymph, was a woman, who was a serpent or fish from the waist down (what was found out by her husband, seeing her in a bathtube).

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! All pillars of the crossing have carved capitals. This one is decorated with two mermaids. Most mermaids seen in the Poitou are members of the more corpulent species, compared to the skinny cousins, found in the Auvergne. In case, the ladies in the bathtubes, seen on the western facade of this church, refer to Mélusine, the legendary water nymph, connected to the local House of Lusignan, these mermaids (and maybe all in the Poitou) will reflect this tale as well. The word SERENA is carved between the maids.

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! Standing in the nave, facing east to the choir. The two chapels of the transept can be partly seen from this pov.

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! The western facade has nicely carved corbels. These corbels seem to be an advertisment for the local hairdresser, specialized in creating unique beards. Or are these men two medieval fashion victims?

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! The western facade has some nicely carved details, one is this "luxuria" in a very extreme position. Under a string of cat's heads the woman is tortured by two lions (and two toads or snakes).

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! The right blind arch of the facade. A closer look onto the equestrian statue. The Poitou has an astonishing number of these large carvings (eg Melle, Surgeres, Airvolt), that can not found often elsewhere. On all places, a small person is sitting on the ground and is trampled over. Most historians see Constantine the Great, triumphing over heathenism. Here, the statue has an even more imperial attitude, as the (crowned) rider holds a falcon, a clear attribute of rank and nobility. The inner archivolt depicts ladies in bathtubes. - These ladies may refer to Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, connected to the House of Lusignan. The oral myth about water-nymphs as very old, but this specific story, centered in the Poitou (around Parthenay) story was written down first time by Jean d'Arras. It got translated - and spread all over Europe. Wikpedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_d%27Arras

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! The right blind arch of the facade. An equestrian statue. The Poitou has an astonishing number of these large carvings (eg Melle, Surgeres, Airvolt), that can not found often elsewhere. On all places, a small person is sitting on the ground and is trampled over. Most historians see Constantine the Great, triumphing over heathenism. Here, the statue has an even more imperial attitude, as the (crowned) rider holds a falcon, a clear attribute of rank and nobility. The outer archivolt has griffons all around (similar to Sainte-Croix, Parhenay), while the inner archivolt depicts ladies in bathtubes (?), what may connect to another story. Maybe..

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup!

Gédouin and Ebo, Seigneurs of Parthenay, invited the monks from "La Chaise-Dieu" in the Auvergne (some 500kms south east), to establish a priory here in 1092. The parish church, that had existed here already before, got replaced then by the church seen now in the early 11th century. Despite the monks roots in the Auvergne the facade is done in the style, common to the area, so they obviously employed master builders with regional experiences. Meanwhile the priory is out of existence since centuries. The church and the remaining buildings are privately owned, but the church is not locked! Merci beaucoup! The left blind arch of the facade. Samson tears the lion apart. Though the stature is damaged and weathered it is still very "dynamic". Nice examples for the "style saintongue" (also named "poitevine", as it can be found all over the Poitou) are the foliage-archivolts and the strings of similar/identical icons. Over the corbels are carved blocks. Each block has up to six identical "fox-heads". One of the capitals (left) has a nice hunting centaur.