Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: vandalism

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". This kiosk had over the last years the most interesting and colourful corner all along Bonner Strasse. But obviously a vandal arrived and destroyed the little beauty. The scars are clearly visible. It is a real loss! Shame on you, vandal! I will apologize in case the corner is just under renovation. Sure! See the PiP.

The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for an 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324. The cathedral covers a surface of 5,900 m². The nave is 15 metres wide and 37 metres high, the inner aisle is 21.3 metres high. There are no transepts, but two aisles on either side forming a double ambulatory around the choir. The portals are breathtaking! As I have uploaded already so many photos I took during earlier visits (just search "Bourges" on my stream), I will ad only a few more for now. some of them just small details like this one. The cathedral went through the centuries of wars and uproars relatively undamaged (compared to other large churches), but this Adoration of the Magi got destroyed by furious vandals

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around. During the agricultural usage, the apse had a "hole" so that carts and animals could get in and out the "stable". Meanwhile, it is closed, but the scar is visible.

La Chaise-Dieu was founded in 1043 by Robert de Turlande. It was named "Casa Dei", from which La Chaise-Dieu developed. From the 11th to the 13th century, the abbey experienced rapid and significant development. When the founder died in 1067, already 300 monks lived here. In the Auvergne La Chaise-Dieu gained importance similar to that of the Burgundian Cluny Abbey. The abbey received many donations from noble families and administered 42 daughter monasteries. Popes who visited the abbey include Urban II, Calixt II, Alexander III. and Innocent II. In 1342, Pierre Roger, who had lived as a monk in La Chaise-Dieu, became Pope in Avignon under the name Clement VI. He financed a new building of the abbey church, in which he was finally buried. The building was completed in 1378 under the pontificate of Gregory XI, a nephew of Clement VI. Since 1516 La Chaise-Dieu, like most other French abbeys, became "in commendam" so the commendatory abbot drew the revenue of the monastery but without fulfilling the duties of the abbot or even residing at the monastery. Calvinist troops looted the abbey in August 1562. After most of the monastery buildings were destroyed by fire in 1695, they were rebuilt by the monks in the decades that followed. In 1786, Cardinal de Rohan, who was involved in the "Affair of the Diamond Necklace" was exiled to La Chaise-Dieu. While the abbey had 40 monks at that time, religious life ended at the beginning of the French Revolution. These two saints probably lost their faces (-and their arms), when the revolutionary furor reached the abbey.

Since the times of Hugh Capet, the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet, Étampes was an important place. It was a crown domain between Paris and Orleans. Hugh´s son Robert II (aka "Robert the Pious") built a stronghold here and founded a collegiate here in the 11th century. The former collegiate church Notre-Dame-du-Fort was erected within the 12th century in (traditional) Romanesque and (modern) Gothic style. Only the crypt dates back to the earlier 10th century-church. Here the relics of the martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla were kept. The popular saints were orphaned siblings beheaded during Diocletian's persecution. "Robert the Pious" had transferred the relics to Étampes from Milano. Meanwhile Notre-Dame-du-Fort serves the parish. In 1562, during the first War of Religions, the Calvinist troops raided, ransacked and vandalized the church. In case something was spared, it got smashed during the French Revolution. Nothing stopped the furious vandals in their rage. They wrecked the complete portal. Even the heads of the "Elders of the Apocalypse" populating the archivolts of the slightly pointed southern portal were not spared out. All of them lost their heads.

Since the times of Hugh Capet, the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet, Étampes was an important place. It was a crown domain between Paris and Orleans. Hugh´s son Robert II (aka "Robert the Pious") built a stronghold here and founded a collegiate here in the 11th century. The former collegiate church Notre-Dame-du-Fort was erected within the 12th century in (traditional) Romanesque and (modern) Gothic style. Only the crypt dates back to the earlier 10th century-church. Here the relics of the martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla were kept. The popular saints were orphaned siblings beheaded during Diocletian's persecution. "Robert the Pious" had transferred the relics to Étampes from Milano. Meanwhile Notre-Dame-du-Fort serves the parish. In 1562, during the first War of Religions, the Calvinist troops raided, ransacked and vandalized the church. In case something was spared, it got smashed during the French Revolution. Here is the slightly pointed southern portal, that is more elaborate than the western one. Having a closer look, I found out, that none of the statues still is intact. Obviously nothing stopped the furious vandals in their rage. They wrecked the complete portal. Not only Christ, saints, apostles and angels even the heads of the most small figures populating the capitals got smashed and are lost.

Caen was a settlement already in Roman times, but prospered, when William the Conqueror (aka "William the Bastard") built a castle here. When William married Matilda of Flanders (~ 1051) a papal ban was issued at the Council of Reims on the grounds of consanguinity. In 1059 Pope Nicholas awarded dispensation, after William and Matilda agreed to found to monasteries as penance. William founded the Abbey of Saint-Etienne (aka "Abbaye aux Hommes"), Matilda founded the Abbey Sainte-Trinité (aka "Abbaye aux Dames"). The erection of both abbeys started in Caen around 1060. The "Abbaye aux Hommes" was suppressed during the French Revolution, the Benedictine monks left. The church became a parish church after the revolution. Most of the nave is Romanesque, while already within the 13th century the Romanesque choir got replaced by this Gothic one. This small carving, depicting a flexible male person, can be found in the nave. It was found obviously by iconoclastic Calvinists, who vandalized the abbey-church in the 1560s.

The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Noyon" is, like the just seen cathedral in Laon, obe of the early Gothic churches in Northern France. The building process started in 1145,so this structure is probably the second oldest Gothic cathedral in France (Sens may be a decade older). It replaced a Romanesque church, that had burnt down in 1131. The cathedral was the seat of the Bishopric of Noyon upto 1801. It got severely damaged during the French Revolution. The structure was "propriété nationale" after the revolution and it was tried to sell it. As nobody was interested in the church, it was used by the parish again from 1799 on. During WWI the cathedral got bombed. The burning roof structure collapsed and large parts of the vaulting got destroyed on 1. April 1918. It took decades to rebuilt and restore the cathedral. One of the facade´s portals. The hammers of the furious revolutionists did not leave anything. No carvings around the archivolts, no tympanum, no jamb statues. Just empty places.

This church belonged to a large "Maison Dieu" ensemble, that was founded as a hospital in the 11th century by Robert II of France (aka "Robert the Pious"), the son of Hugo Capet. This hospital, run by monks, provided food and shelter for the pilgrims and the sick. Though the hospital, that as well was a convent, got severely damaged over the centuries, it always got rebuilt. Today the buildings are renovated and house the local retirement home. This 12th century frieze is placed very high on Saint-Larent-and-Saint-Vincent´s tower, but the position did not save it. Some iconoclastic vandals must have taken lots of effort to climb up and vandalize the frieze. This may have happened during the Wars of Religion or just after the French Revolution. Seen is the Nativity from the Annunciation to the flight to Egypt. Here is a detailled frame. The "Adoration of the Magi", again (see previous upload) Jesus is lost, but the cross-nimbus is still in place.

This church belonged to a large "Maison Dieu" ensemble, that was founded as a hospital in the 11th century by Robert II of France (aka "Robert the Pious"), the son of Hugo Capet. This hospital, run by monks, provided food and shelter for the pilgrims and the sick. Though the hospital, that as well was a convent, got severely damaged over the centuries, it always got rebuilt. Today the buildings are renovated and house the local retirement home. This 12th century frieze is placed very high on Saint-Larent-and-Saint-Vincent´s tower, but the position did not save it. Some iconoclastic vandals must have taken lots of effort to climb up and vandalize the frieze. This may have happened during the Wars of Religion or just after the French Revolution. Seen is the Nativity from the Annunciation to the flight to Egypt.

A priory existed here in 1095. This was probably the nucleus of the village of Catus. The convent was depending from the Benedictian abbey Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse 700kms (!) east in what is today Northern Italy. Saint Astier was built as the priory church within the 12th century, but only the crossing tower may date back to that early times. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years War, the priory was given up end of 14th century. The Wars of Religion again brought devastation to Catus, but from the 16th century on the structure got rebuilt in Gothic style. After the French Revolution the remaining buildings of the priory were sold as "biens nationaux" (national property). Unfortunately the cloister was sold as well - and is lost. Romanesque capitals are not vandalism-proof in times of wars and revolutions. None of the few capitals, that still can be found, where the cloister once was, is undamaged.

Sos del Rey Católico is a quaint, historic town with a population of just over 600. Founded as "Sos" by Sancho I of Pamplona during the Reconquista in the early 10th century, the town changed its name to Sos del Rey Católico, after Ferdinand II of Aragon (aka "el Católico") was born here in 1452. The town is built on a mountaintop. You enter it by foot through the medieval gates, as the old walls, that surround the town still exist. This is the portal of the "Iglesia de San Esteban" (= Saint Steven). The building of this church started already mid of the 11th century, financed by Estefania de Foix, young widow of Garcia Sanchez III of Pamplona. The church got enlarged and altered over the next centuries many times. The narthex with the wonderful gothic vaults was added within the 16th century. So the Romanesque portal from the 12th century was from then on protected against the weather - but unfortunately not against the vandalism of the following centuries. The stairs to the left (note the handrail) lead down to the dark passage way of the crypt.

The cloister of Saint-Trophime forms a rectangle 28m x 25m. The eastern and northern sides were built in romanesque style 1160 - 1180. Shortly after that all constructions came to halt, due to an economic decline of Arles. New orders like the Trinitarians and the Knights Templar had settled in Arles - and caused competition. It took more than a century to restart the building process, so the southern and western sides were built erected during the 14th and 15th century in gothic style. Sofar I uploaded carvings describing themes from the bible, but there is more to see, like this damaged Luxuria. It is noticeably, that the carvings of the cloister are much more damaged, than the carvings of the western facade. There must be a reason, that Luxurias and mermaids never get spared from vandalism.

An oratorium here is recorded already in 996. Count Guifred Cabreta, grandson of Wilfred the Hairy (a person I was interested in since ages. We will "meet" him later) donated land and funds for the erection of a monastery in atonement for the murder of his own son. The abbey was built around the older oratorium and already 1009 a church was consecrated and dedicated to Saint Martin by the Bishop of Elne, who was Count Guifred´s brother. In the document a monk named Sclua is mentioned as the builder. Sclua may have been, what was later called an architect. In 1012 the relics of Saint Gauderique were transferred to Saint-Martin, adding importance to the place. Following a medievial tradition (eg William of Gellone, Bernard II, Lord of Lippe) Count Guifried later left his wife, quit his worldy (sinful) life and entered the Benedictian convent here as a monk. He died at this monastery in 1049. Shortly after that the importance of the monastery dwindeled dramatically. An earthquake ruined the monastery in 1428. The rebuilding took decades. The small, remote convent was later threatend by food-shortage as well as by gangs of smugglers and raiders, who filled the frontier area with terror, the monastery was secularized. In 1781 the last five monks and the abbot left the buildings. The complex fell into disrepair and were used as a stone quarry by local home-builders. In 1902 the bishop of Elne and Perpignan bought the ruins and started a pretty radical restauration. Some buildings were even added, to accomodate visitors. In 1922 a number of capitals could be bought back, that had once belonged to the cloister and "got lost" after the French Revolution. Even if this is not "original" in many aspects, even if it may "lack some character", like some authors wrote, it is a wonderful complex, and as Marcel Durliat wrote, a church "premier art roman méridional", as it is older than most of the other romanesque buildings in Southern France. As sirens (seen on the previous upload) often team up with mermaids, it is no wonder, that mermaids are here. The damage here is even worse, compared to the siren-capital, but mermaids somehow trigger heavy vandalism.

The cloister of Saint-Trophime forms a rectangle 28m x 25m. The eastern and northern sides were built in romanesque style 1160 - 1180. Shortly after that all constructions came to halt, due to an economic decline of Arles. New orders like the Trinitarians and the Knights Templar had settled in Arles - and caused competition. It took more than a century to restart the building process, so the southern and western sides were built erected during the 14th and 15th century in gothic style. All around the walls of the cloister are carvings, that are not connected to the bible, like this little mermaid. She is holding her tail in the left - and a fish in the right hand. Like most mermaids she has precisely parted long hair. It is noticeably, that the carvings of the cloister are much more damaged, than the carvings of the western facade. There must be a reason, that Luxurias and mermaids never get spared from vandalism.