Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Maison Dieu

The octagon 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. The octagon was erected within the 12th century and ws used as chapel and ossuary. Medieval octagons follow certain traditions, that may start at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. They can be found all over Europe, often connected to the Knights Hospitaller. The original roof of the octagon (a stone spire?) got lost, the roof seen today dateds back to the 17th century, the lantern was added in 1997. But all the corbels around the roof are still original. Here is one, that reminds me on a child and a stuffed toy. Obvioulsy a teddy (ears!) with very long arms.

The octagon 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. The octagon was erected within the 12th century and ws used as chapel and ossuary. Medieval octagons follow certain traditions, that may start at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. They can be found all over Europe, often connected to the Knights Hospitaller. The western facade has this highly interesting sculptures, visible from two and four sides! The sculpted group was probably reused here. To the left is this Luxuria.

The octagon 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. The octagon was erected within the 12th century and ws used as chapel and ossuary. Medieval octagons follow certain traditions, that may start at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. They can be found all over Europe, often connected to the Knights Hospitaller. The western facade has this highly interesting sculptures, visible from two and four sides! The sculpted group was probably reused here. To the left is a Luxuria.

The octagon 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. The octagon was erected within the 12th century and ws used as chapel and ossuary. Medieval octagons follow certain traditions, that may start at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. They can be found all over Europe, often connected to the Knights Hospitaller. The western facade has this highly interesting sculptures, visible from two and four sides! The sculpted group was probably reused here. To the left is a Luxuria.

The octagon, seen here, 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. The octagon was erected within the 12th century and ws used as chapel and ossuary. Medieval octagons follow certain traditions, that may start at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. They can be found all over Europe, often connected to the Knights Hospitaller. A small group of visitors is waiting for the guide with the key. This was not our lucky day, as the guide did never showed up. We learned from the tourist office, that he unfortunately had fallen ill that day. So nobody could see the interior.

The octagon belonged, like the church just seen, 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. The octagon was erected within the 12th century and was used as chapel and ossuary. I had come to Montmorrilon, to see this structure, as I am interested in medieval octogons. Of course, it was closed already that evening.

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.

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. The church of Saint-Larent-and-Saint-Vincent has a 12th century tower and an interesting (though mutilated) frieze on the facade.