Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: barracks

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century and a baptistery from the same time are located just outside Corte. Neighbouring this complex is a large given up military area with different buildings and hangars that now rust and crumble.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. The ruins of San Giovanni Battista, a three-nave pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century and a baptistery from the same time are located just outside Corte. Neighbouring this complex is a large given up military area with different buildings and hangars that now rust and crumble.

The Abbey of Sainte-Marie-des-Dames was the first Benedictine abbey for women Charente-Maritime. It was founded in 1047 by Geoffrey II (aka "Geoffrey Martel") and his first wife Agnes of Burgundy. Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of Richard Lionheart, was a great donor here. The place, where the abbey got erected, was a Roman cemetery. An Oratorium, over the tomb of Saint Pallais, existed here already in the 6th century. Saintes was a major halt for the pilgrims following the Via Turonensis, so the abbey developed well, during the first centuries. During the 100 Year´s War the abbey got ruined, reconstructed later, it got severely damaged by Huguenots during the Wars of Religions. The abbey existed up to the end of the 18th century. After the French Revolution the buldings served as prison and from 1808 on as a barracks. The church was used as a stable for the horses of the cavalry. The barracks were here up to the early 1920s, before the first renovations were started. In 1938 the abbey church "Sainte-Marie" got consecrated again. Standing "in" the portal, looking upward, counting the archivolts (8!). The Huguenots have damaged the church severely, but did not destroy the carvings.

The Abbey of Sainte-Marie-des-Dames was the first Benedictine abbey for women Charente-Maritime. It was founded in 1047 by Geoffrey II (aka "Geoffrey Martel") and his first wife Agnes of Burgundy. Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of Richard Lionheart, was a great donor here. The place, where the abbey got erected, was a Roman cemetery. An Oratorium, over the tomb of Saint Pallais, existed here already in the 6th century. Saintes was a major halt for the pilgrims following the Via Turonensis, so the abbey developed well, during the first centuries. During the 100 Year´s War the abbey got ruined, reconstructed later, it got severely damaged by Huguenots during the Wars of Religions. The abbey existed up to the end of the 18th century. After the French Revolution the buldings served as prison and from 1808 on as a barracks. The church was used as a stable for the horses of the cavalry. The barracks existed still in the early 1920s, before the renovations were done. In 1938 the abbey church "Sainte-Marie" got consecrated again. This is the right arc. The main archivolt depicts 24 men, sitting on chairs. Their lower shanks are visible from underneath. Twelve of these have a kind of board on their knees, what may stand for a table. So the most historians see this (despite large number of people) as the Last Supper. Most participants have halos. Christ ("cross nimbus") passes the bread to Judas (no nimbus!)

The Abbey of Sainte-Marie-des-Dames was the first Benedictine abbey for women Charente-Maritime. It was founded in 1047 by Geoffrey II (aka "Geoffrey Martel") and his first wife Agnes of Burgundy. Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of Richard Lionheart, was a great donor here. The place, where the abbey got erected, was a large Roman cemetery. Where the church is now, existed an Oratorium, over the tomb of Saint Pallais, already in the 6th century. Saintes was a major halt for the pilgrims following the Via Turonensis to Santiago, so the abbey developed well, during the first centuries. During the 100 Year´s War the abbey got ruined, reconstructed later, it got severely damaged by Huguenots during the Wars of Religions. The abbey existed up to the end of the 18th century. During the French Revolution some buildings got destroyed, the remaining ones served as prison and since 1808 as a barracks. The church was used as a stable for the horses of the cavalry. The barracks existed still in the early 1920s. The first renovation of the complex was done from 1930 on. In 1938 the abbey church "Sainte-Marie" got consecrated again. The facade in the typical "style saintongeais". The abbey had a number of priories in the area, so the elaborate carvings, seen here, had a very strong influence.

The Abbey of Sainte-Marie-des-Dames was the first Benedictine abbey for women Charente-Maritime. It was founded in 1047 by Geoffrey II (aka "Geoffrey Martel"), Count of Anjou, and his first wife Agnes of Burgundy. Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of Richard Lionheart, was a great donor here. The place, where the abbey got erected, was a large Roman cemetery. Where the church is now, existed an Oratorium already in the 6th century, containing the tomb of Saint Pallais. Saintes was a major halt for all the pilgrims following the Via Turonensis to Santiago, so the abbey developed well, during the first two centuries. During the 100 Year´s War the abbey got ruined, reconstructed later, it got severely damaged by Huguenots during the Wars of Religions. The abbey existed up to the end of the 18th century. During the French Revolution some buildings got destroyed, the remaining ones served as prison and since 1808 as a barracks. The church was used as a stable for the horses of the cavalry. As there was no proper use for a Gothic cloister, it got demolished. The barracks existed still in the early 1920s. The first renovation of the complex was done from 1930 on. In 1938 the abbey church "Sainte-Marie" got consecrated again. Here it is seen just after midnight.

The Abbey of Sainte-Marie-des-Dames was the first Benedictine abbey for women Charente-Maritime. It was founded in 1047 by Geoffrey II (aka "Geoffrey Martel"), Count of Anjou, and his first wife Agnes of Burgundy. Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of Richard Lionheart, was a great donor here. The place, where the abbey got erected, was a large Roman cemetery. Where the church is now, existed an Oratorium before, containing the tomb of Saint Pallais. Saintes was a major halt for all the pilgrims following the Via Turonensis to Santiago, so the abbey developed well, during the first two centuries. During the 100 Year´s War the abbey got ruined, reconstructed later, it got severely damaged by Huguenots during the Wars of Religions. The abbey existed up to the end of the 18th century. During the French Revolution some buildings got destroyed, the remaining ones served as prison and since 1808 as a barracks. The church was used as a stable for the horses of the cavalry. As there was no proper use for a Gothic cloister, it got demolished. The barracks existed still in the early 1920s. The first renovation of the complex was done from 1930 on. In 1938 the abbey church "Sainte-Marie" got consecrated again. Here it is seen just after noontime.

The Abbey of Sainte-Marie-des-Dames was the first Benedictine abbey for women Charente-Maritime. It was founded in 1047 by Geoffrey II (aka Geoffrey Martel"), Count of Anjou, and his first wife Agnes of Burgundy. Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of Richard Lionheart, was a great donor here. WHere the abbey got erected, was a large Roman cemetery. Where the church is now, existed an Oratorium, over the tomb of Saint Palais, since the 6th century. Saintes was a major halt for all the pilgrims following the Via Turonensis to Santiago, so the abbey developed well, during the first two centuries. During the 100 Year´s War the abbey got ruined, reconstructed later, it got severely damaged by Huguenots during the Wars of Religions. The abbey existed up to the end of the 18th century. During the French Revolution some buildings got destroyed, the remaining ones served as prison and since 1808 as a barracks. The church was used as a stable for the horses of the cavalry. As there was no proper use for a Gothic cloister, it got demolished. The barracks existed still in the early 1920s, but the first renovation of the complex was done from 1930 on. In 1938 the church got consecrated again. After a complete renovation (1970-1988) the abbey now serves as a cultural center. Some of the former "cellae" are offered to tourists. Though the rooms are very basic, this is a great place to stay. www.abbayeauxdames.org