Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: hôpital des pèlerins

The "hôpital des pèlerins" hosted a very interesting exhibition centered around graffiti, carved into the walls by pilgrims on their way to Santiago. The many graffiti were collected (and made visible) by GRAHT. On GRAHT´s website are some interesting articles (in French). www.graht.fr/map.php

As I waited for the friendly person to unlock and open the "hôpital", I had time to walk around and see the many graffiti, scratched in by pilgrims centuries ago. I had been here before, but there are so many.. On the walls of the neighbouring building, that once belonged to the "hôpital", are - ships!

As I waited for the friendly person to unlock and open the "hôpital", I had time to walk around and see the many graffiti, scratched in by pilgrims centuries ago. I had been here before, but there are so many.. Here is a large a fish (pike?) and (right) triangels and a hatchet, used by carpenters.

I found this message nailed to the door of the "hôpital"... So from Paris to Pons I had walked 491 kms, what is not really much, as I had started in Paris in 2014. Getting older - I lost a lot of sportive ambition over the last decade and now move very slow... When I read, that there was a exhibition on "medieval graffiti", I decided to stay and phone around. After a while I could see the exhibition - though "normally" it was only open in the afternoons. Merci beaucoup!

The road leading up to the hôpital des pèlerins was decorated with pennants. The "Pilgrim´s Hospital" is the building in the back (arch). The arch is covered with old (horseshoe) graffiti. I took many fotos there during previous visits.

Passing Saint-Vivien in the early morning, heading to the old "hôpital des pèlerins", just a few hundred meters away. Before that the "tampon" had been stamped into my "credential".

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. There is a hammer. It seems to be a slate hammer, roofers still use today.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. First time I found the Keys of Heaven. These crossed keys often stand for the Holy See. Here maybe somebody named Pierre, Petrus or Peter left them, as Saint Peter holds the keys as the gatekeeper.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. A horseshoe like this one is a common pilgrim´s graffiti (see previous uploads). Here there may be a name. Are there greek letters? GAI(SON) ?

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. A horseshoe like this one, combined with a cross, is a common pilgrim´s graffiti (see previous upload). It is believed, that the pilgrims so ensured a special blessing for their horses, mules and donkeys.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage route have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. The horseshoes, seen here, are very common pilgrim´s graffiti. It is believed, that the pilgrims so ensured a special blessing for their horses, mules and donkeys.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Looking into the large room, that once was the "hôpital des pèlerins" and later was used as a hospital ward. The wooden roof structure is from the 13h century. The walls are covered with graffiti. Now the building is a museum.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. The Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion finally ended the pilgrimage. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. A priory church, destroyed during the Wars of Religion, was once part of the complex. Only the portal still exists, and as it was sheltered under the arch, it is unweathered. From the sign on the door, the pilgrims learn, that the distance from here to Santiago de Compostella is 1183 kms.