Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse

Sainte-Trinité dates back to the early 12th century. It is Romanesque, described as "style bourguignon". The dedication to the Holy Trinity is not very frequent in this period. Autry was part of the convent Montet-aux-Moines (20kms south), itself a priory dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy). Later the parish passed under the authority of the Abbess of Saint-Menoux, just a few kilometers north. The style of the carvings along the nave differs clearly from the carvings at the portal (previous upload). They are much rougher. Here is one of them, depicting a horn blower - and flowers.

Sainte-Trinité dates back to the early 12th century. It is Romanesque, described as "style bourguignon". The dedication to the Holy Trinity is not very frequent in this period. Autry was part of the convent Montet-aux-Moines (20kms south), itself a priory dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy). Later the parish passed under the authority of the Abbess of Saint-Menoux, just a few kilometers north. The nave of Sainte-Trinité is pretty wide, the style of the rough carvings here differs clearly from the carvings at the portal (previous upload).

Sainte-Trinité dates back to the early 12th century. It is Romanesque, described as "style bourguignon". The dedication to the Holy Trinity is not very frequent in this period. Autry was part of the convent Montet-aux-Moines (20kms south), itself a priory dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy). Later the parish passed under the authority of the Abbess of Saint-Menoux, just a few kilometers north. The portal of Sainte-Trinité is impressive (previous uploads). This capital depicting two birds/griffins drinking from a chalice, a very common icon in medieval times, is on its left side.

Sainte-Trinité dates back to the early 12th century. It is Romanesque, described as "style bourguignon". The dedication to the Holy Trinity is not very frequent in this period. Autry was part of the convent Montet-aux-Moines (20kms south), itself a priory dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy). Later the parish passed under the authority of the Abbess of Saint-Menoux, just a few kilometers north. The tympanum has two angels holding an "empty" mandorla which surrounds "normally" Christ in glory. It may have been painted - and weathered away. Left and rights are arches with lamps and behind houses and towers. That architecture may stand for the "Heavenly Jerusalem". The tympanum is signed in the right corner. + NATALIS ME FE(CIT)

Sainte-Trinité dates back to the early 12th century. It is Romanesque, described as "style bourguignon". The dedication to the Holy Trinity is not very frequent in this period. Autry was part of the convent Montet-aux-Moines (20kms south), itself a priory dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy). Later the parish passed under the authority of the Abbess of Saint-Menoux, just a few kilometers north. The tympanum has two angels holding an "empty" mandorla which surrounds "normally" Christ in glory. It may have been painted - and weathered away. Left and rights are arches with lamps and behind houses and towers. That architecture may stand for the "Heavenly Jerusalem". The inscription in the triangle above the mandorla reads "PENAS REDDO MALIS PREMA DOD BONIS" = I punish those who do evil I reward thos who do good. The church, renovated and partly reconstructed in the 19th century, is rather large - Autry-Issards today only has a population of about 350.

Sainte-Trinité dates back to the early 12th century. It is Romanesque, described as "style bourguignon". The dedication to the Holy Trinity is not very frequent in this period. Autry was part of the convent Montet-aux-Moines (20kms south), itself a priory dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy). Later the parish passed under the authority of the Abbess of Saint-Menoux, just a few kilometers north. The portal of Sainte-Trinité is imressive - and signed! The church, renovated and partly reconstructed in the 19th century, is rather large - Autry-Issards today only has a population of about 350.

Sainte-Trinité dates back to the early 12th century. It is Romanesque, described as "style bourguignon". The dedication to the Holy Trinity is not very frequent in this period. Autry was part of the convent Montet-aux-Moines (20kms south), itself a priory dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy). Later the parish passed under the authority of the Abbess of Saint-Menoux, just a few kilometers north. The church, renovated and partly reconstructed in the 19th century, is rather large - Autry-Issards today only has a population of about 350.

For centuries this town was known as "Le Montet-aux-Moines" but after the French Revolution the name was shortened. Archambault II of Bourbon founded a Benedictine monastery here, as a burial ground for himself and his successors. This priory, dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy) developed well and was soon after one of the largest of the area. The vast former abbey-church dates to the 12th century, it got modified in the 14th century and severely damaged in 1567, when during the Wars of Religions Huguenot troops burned down and sacked town and convent. The church was in very bad conditions after the Revolution and in 1871 the large apse, the ambulatory and the radiating chapels were pulled down. The building lost nearly half of its former length. The nave has some extraordinary capitals. Here is one capital - from three different angles. From the information given here, I learned, that this capital may depict "Feeding the multitude". Either 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21) or 4000 (Mark 8:1-9) Seen are loaves of bread, handed over by a woman (?) and on the left a man, holding a basket and a fish. If the person in the center is a woman, I doubt the interpretation.

For centuries this town was known as "Le Montet-aux-Moines" but after the French Revolution the name was shortened. Archambault II of Bourbon founded a Benedictine monastery here, as a burial ground for himself and his successors. This priory, dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy) developed well and was soon after one of the largest of the area. The vast former abbey-church dates to the 12th century, it got modified in the 14th century and severely damaged in 1567, when during the Wars of Religions Huguenot troops burned down and sacked town and convent. The church was in very bad conditions after the Revolution and in 1871 the large apse, the ambulatory and the radiating chapels were pulled down. The building lost nearly half of its former length. The nave has some extraordinary capitals. (Dancing?) Daniel in the lions' den, a "Master of Beasts". The lions have wings, strange manes and human faces.

For centuries this town was known as "Le Montet-aux-Moines" but after the French Revolution the name was shortened. Archambault II of Bourbon founded a Benedictine monastery here, as a burial ground for himself and his successors. This priory, dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy) developed well and was soon after one of the largest of the area. The vast former abbey-church dates to the 12th century, it got modified in the 14th century and severely damaged in 1567, when during the Wars of Religions Huguenot troops burned down and sacked town and convent. The church was in very bad conditions after the Revolution and in 1871 the large apse, the ambulatory and the radiating chapels were pulled down. The building lost nearly half of its former length - and so the nave in medieval times was much longer, than it is today.

For centuries this town was known as "Le Montet-aux-Moines" but after the French Revolution the name was shortened. Archambault II of Bourbon founded a Benedictine monastery here, as a burial ground for himself and his successors. This priory, dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy) developed well and was soon after one of the largest of the area. The vast former abbey-church dates to the 12th century, it got modified in the 14th century and severely damaged in 1567, when during the Wars of Religions Huguenot troops burned down and sacked town and convent. The church was in very bad conditions after the Revolution and in 1871 the large apse, the ambulatory and the radiating chapels were pulled down. So the building lost nearly half of its former length, and now ends in the three 19th century apses seen here.

For centuries this town was known as "Le Montet-aux-Moines" but after the French Revolution the name was shortened. Archambault II of Bourbon founded a Benedictine monastery here, as a burial ground for himself and his successors. This priory, dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy) developed well and was soon after one of the largest of the area. The vast former abbey-church dates to the 12th century, it got modified in the 14th century and severely damaged in 1567, when during the Wars of Religions Huguenot troops burned down and sacked town and convent. The church was in very bad conditions after the Revolution and in 1871 the large apse, the ambulatory and the radiating chapels were pulled down. So the building lost nearly half of its former length. A tower was added at that time in neogothic style - and the western facade rebuilt. The portal is in perfect condition - and has a very interesting tympanum, probably "re-created" in the end of the 19th century.

For centuries this town was known as "Le Montet-aux-Moines" but after the French Revolution the name was shortened. Archambault II of Bourbon founded a Benedictine monastery here, as a burial ground for himself and his successors. This priory, dependent on Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse in Piedmont ("Sacra di San Michele" near Turino, Italy) developed well and was soon after one of the largest of the area. The vast former abbey-church dates to the 12th century, it got modified in the 14th century and severely damaged in 1567, when during the Wars of Religions Huguenot troops burned down and sacked town and convent. The church was in very bad conditions after the Revolution and in 1871 the large apse, the ambulatory and the radiating chapels were pulled down. So the building lost nearly half of its former length. The tower was added at that time in neogothic style - and the western facade rebuilt.

A priory existed in Albignac, depending from the Benedictian abbey Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse 700kms (!) east in what is today Northern Italy. The monastery must have been important in the 11th century, as another priory existed 100 kms south in Catus. In 1394 Cistercian nuns moved into the buildings, that all got lost. Just the large bell tower seen here remained from the Romanesque church, that after many alterations and renovations serves the parish. This capital was part of the lost transept once. Here are two arguing "hydrocentaurs". They wear helmets and both have battleaxes in their hands. This may be just the artist´s imaginative idea, but it may as well be an "echo" of the Norman/Viking raids. Helmets and battleaxes show these are warriers. Vikings were feared and known for these weapons and they were bound to rivers (hydro) as they approached in longships, often decorated with dragonheads.

A priory existed in Albignac, depending from the Benedictian abbey Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse 700kms (!) east in what is today Northern Italy. The monastery must have been important in the 11th century, as another priory existed 100 kms south in Catus. In 1394 Cistercian nuns moved into the buildings, that all got lost. Just the large bell tower seen here remained from the Romanesque church, that after many alterations and renovations serves the parish.

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.

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. I was surprised by this statue, depicting a man in chinese attire, tied to a cross. I learned that Jean-Gabriel Perboyre was born in Montgesty, a village 5kms north, in 1802. He was a missionary to China, where became a martyr in 1840. Pope John Paul II canonized him. Wiki and the Vatican know more about him: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gabriel_Perboyre www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19...

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. The gothic nave of Saint-Astier.