Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: bestiary

A settlement existed here before the Romans arrived. Caesar promoted the place, which was consequently called "Forum Julii". The name eventually became the place name, which has survived to this day abraded. Emperor Augustus increased the importance of the place when he established here the Colonia Octaviorum. An amphitheater and other structures can still be seen. In 572 the Lombards devastated the Frejus. The siltation of the harbor was accompanied by the decline of the city. Between the 7th and the 9th centuries, Muslim invaders repeatedly raided the city. Fréjus' resurgence began in the 10th century under the leadership of the city's bishops. He started the erection of the cathedral amd had the city fortified. In 1471, the city counted 266 inhabited houses, but a pirate raid in 1475 led to destruction of the city again. Of course Frejus is a touristic place meanwhile, but other than neighbouring Cannes, it still has a very "french" flair, with a lot of locals drinking pastis in the sidewalk cafes. - The Saint-Léonce cathedral is a building originally medieval that got enlarged and altered quite often over the centuries. The two-story cloister dates from the 13th century and was used by the cathedral chapiters. The cloister encloses a rectangular courtyard. The wooden ceilings date from the 14th century and offer a collection of about 300 painted panels from the 14th and 15th centuries. A fantastic bestiary. The wooden ceilings date from the 14th century and offer a collection of about 300 painted panels from the 14th and 15th centuries. A fantastic bestiary. Medieval elephants are a very rare species. Here are even two of them. They are connected to a nice locally told story. Pablo Picasso lived in the area and of course he knew the paintings of the cloister. He was visited by Dali a couple of times and together the artists went around the cloister, studying the creatures. Dali was thrilled by the elephants and so they inspired him for the elephants he created later.

A settlement existed here before the Romans arrived. Caesar promoted the place, which was consequently called "Forum Julii". The name eventually became the place name, which has survived to this day abraded. Emperor Augustus increased the importance of the place when he established here the Colonia Octaviorum. An amphitheater and other structures can still be seen. In 572 the Lombards devastated the Frejus. The siltation of the harbor was accompanied by the decline of the city. Between the 7th and the 9th centuries, Muslim invaders repeatedly raided the city. Fréjus' resurgence began in the 10th century under the leadership of the city's bishops. He started the erection of the cathedral amd had the city fortified. In 1471, the city counted 266 inhabited houses, but a pirate raid in 1475 led to destruction of the city again. Of course Frejus is a touristic place meanwhile, but other than neighbouring Cannes, it still has a very "french" flair, with a lot of locals drinking pastis in the sidewalk cafes. - The Saint-Léonce cathedral is a building originally medieval that got enlarged and altered quite often over the centuries. The two-story cloister dates from the 13th century and was used by the cathedral chapiters. The cloister encloses a rectangular courtyard. The wooden ceilings date from the 14th century and offer a collection of about 300 painted panels from the 14th and 15th centuries. A fantastic bestiary. The wooden ceilings date from the 14th century and offer a collection of about 300 painted panels from the 14th and 15th centuries. A fantastic bestiary. Medieval elephants are a very rare species. Here are even two of them. They are connected to a nice locally told story. Pablo Picasso lived in the area and of course he knew the paintings of the cloister. He was visited by Dali a couple of times and together the artists went around the cloister, studying the creatures. Dali was thrilled by the elephants and so they inspired him for the elephants he created later.

A settlement existed here before the Romans arrived. Caesar promoted the place, which was consequently called "Forum Julii". The name eventually became the place name, which has survived to this day abraded. Emperor Augustus increased the importance of the place when he established here the Colonia Octaviorum. An amphitheater and other structures can still be seen. In 572 the Lombards devastated the Frejus. The siltation of the harbor was accompanied by the decline of the city. Between the 7th and the 9th centuries, Muslim invaders repeatedly raided the city. Fréjus' resurgence began in the 10th century under the leadership of the city's bishops. He started the erection of the cathedral amd had the city fortified. In 1471, the city counted 266 inhabited houses, but a pirate raid in 1475 led to destruction of the city again. Of course Frejus is a touristic place meanwhile, but other than neighbouring Cannes, it still has a very "french" flair, with a lot of locals drinking pastis in the sidewalk cafes. - The Saint-Léonce cathedral is a building originally medieval that got enlarged and altered quite often over the centuries. The two-story cloister dates from the 13th century and was used by the cathedral chapiters. The cloister encloses a rectangular courtyard. The wooden ceilings date from the 14th century and offer a collection of about 300 painted panels from the 14th and 15th centuries. A fantastic bestiary.

A settlement existed here before the Romans arrived. Caesar promoted the place, which was consequently called "Forum Julii". The name eventually became the place name, which has survived to this day abraded. Emperor Augustus increased the importance of the place when he established here the Colonia Octaviorum. An amphitheater and other structures can still be seen. In 572 the Lombards devastated the Frejus. The siltation of the harbor was accompanied by the decline of the city. Between the 7th and the 9th centuries, Muslim invaders repeatedly raided the city. Fréjus' resurgence began in the 10th century under the leadership of the city's bishops. He started the erection of the cathedral amd had the city fortified. In 1471, the city counted 266 inhabited houses, but a pirate raid in 1475 led to destruction of the city again. Of course Frejus is a touristic place meanwhile, but other than neighbouring Cannes, it still has a very "french" flair, with a lot of locals drinking pastis in the sidewalk cafes. - The Saint-Léonce cathedral is a building originally medieval that got enlarged and altered quite often over the centuries. The two-story cloister dates from the 13th century and was used by the cathedral chapiters. The cloister encloses a rectangular courtyard. The wooden ceilings date from the 14th century and offer a collection of about 300 painted panels from the 14th and 15th centuries. A fantastic bestiary.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art (for me) in Lusignan is the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary. Here is the right part of the semicircle. A person with the walking stick (pilgrim?), a horse, a pig, a sitting or cowering person (naked?), an animal (hare?) and a dromedar. The Lords of Lusignan knew dromedars, as some of them made careers in the Crusades. Guy of Lusignan and his younger brother Amalric were kings of the crusader state of Jerusalem and of Cyprus.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art (for me) in Lusignan is the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary. A close-up of the elephant, just seen with its neighbours. Most medieval elephants are carved in pairs, posing head to head. This one is portrayed in profile. It is hard to recognize, but the elephant is "dressed" like all elephants I saw so far in the Poitou.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art (for me) in Lusignan is the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary. Here is the center part of the semicircle. A runner or dancer, a standing person, a human face with a long beard, a branch with leaves (?) ( not a seahorse!), a fish, a snakelike creature with two small forelegs, a fourlegged animal, a person with a walking stick (pilgrim?).

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art (for me) in Lusignan is the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary. Here is the left part of the semicircle. A pelican or swan (?), a bull (?), a winged dragon, a cat (?) an elephant, four quadrupeds.

1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art in Lusignan is (for me) the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the important Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary.