Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Louis le Pieux

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Though I have already uploaded photos from previous visits, I will add some more.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Though I have already uploaded photos from previous visits, I will add some more.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Though I have already uploaded photos from previous visits, I will add some more.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Though I have already uploaded photos from previous visits, I will add some more.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Though I have already uploaded photos from previous visits, I will add some more.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Though I have already uploaded photos from previous visits, I will add some more.

The Romans founded this city 8BC under the name "Confluentes". Koblenz by now is situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence (sic!) with the Moselle. The oldest church in Koblenz is the Basilica of St. Kastor, located next to the "Deutsches Eck". The first church here was built as part of a monastery 817-836 by Hetto, Archbishop of Trier, with the support of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. In 842 provisions of the division of the Frankish kingdom were negotiated here by representatives of Louis´ three sons Lothair I, Charles the Bald and Louis the German. This negotiation resulted in the Treaty of Verdun (843), which divided the Frankish Empire into three parts (West Francia, Middle Francia and East Francia). Normans raided the area and destroyed the Carolingian church in 882. Rebuilding started soon after. The new church grew much larger over the next 200 years. In 1138 Konrad III was elected here by an assembly consisting only of friends and supporters. Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and Edward III of England swore allegiance and friendship at St. Kastor in 1338. The monastery existed upto 1802. At that time Koblenz was French. All building including the cloister got demolished. The church since then served the local parish. St. Kastor got renovated within the 19th century, but in 1944 St. Kastor was damaged by an air raid. Rebuilding started just after WWII, the restauration of the interior was finally completed in 1990. The once flat, wooden ceiling got replaced by this wonderful gothic vaulting 1496-1499.

The Romans founded this city 8BC under the name "Confluentes". Koblenz by now is situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence (sic!) with the Moselle. The oldest church in Koblenz is the Basilica of St. Kastor, located next to the "Deutsches Eck". The first church here was built as part of a monastery 817-836 by Hetto, Archbishop of Trier, with the support of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. In 842 provisions of the division of the Frankish kingdom were negotiated here by representatives of Louis´ three sons Lothair I, Charles the Bald and Louis the German. This negotiation resulted in the Treaty of Verdun (843), which divided the Frankish Empire into three parts (West Francia, Middle Francia and East Francia). Normans raided the area and destroyed the Carolingian church in 882. Rebuilding started soon after. The new church grew much larger over the next 200 years. In 1138 Konrad III was elected here by an assembly consisting only of friends and supporters. Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and Edward III of England swore allegiance and friendship at St. Kastor in 1338. The monastery existed upto 1802. At that time Koblenz was French. All building including the cloister got demolished. The church since then served the local parish. St. Kastor got renovated within the 19th century, but in 1944 St. Kastor was damaged by an air raid. Rebuilding started just after WWII, the restauration of the interior was finally completed in 1990. The once flat, wooden ceiling got replaced by this wonderful gothic vaulting 1496-1499.

The Romans founded this city 8BC under the name "Confluentes". Koblenz by now is situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence (sic!) with the Moselle. The oldest church in Koblenz is the Basilica of St. Kastor, located next to the "Deutsches Eck". The first church here was built as part of a monastery 817-836 by Hetto, Archbishop of Trier, with the support of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. In 842 provisions of the division of the Frankish kingdom were negotiated here by representatives of Louis´ three sons Lothair I, Charles the Bald and Louis the German. This negotiation resulted in the Treaty of Verdun (843), which divided the Frankish Empire into three parts (West Francia, Middle Francia and East Francia). Normans raided the area and destroyed the Carolingian church in 882. Rebuilding started soon after. The new church grew much larger over the next 200 years. In 1138 Konrad III was elected here by an assembly consisting only of friends and supporters. Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and Edward III of England swore allegiance and friendship at St. Kastor in 1338. The monastery existed upto 1802. At that time Koblenz was French. All building including the cloister got demolished. The church since then served the local parish. St. Kastor got renovated within the 19th century, but in 1944 St. Kastor was damaged by an air raid. Rebuilding started just after WWII, the restauration of the interior was finally completed in 1990. The apse and the flanking towers.

The Romans founded this city 8BC under the name "Confluentes". Koblenz by now is situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence (sic!) with the Moselle. The oldest church in Koblenz is the Basilica of St. Kastor, located next to the "Deutsches Eck". The first church here was built as part of a monastery 817-836 by Hetto, Archbishop of Trier, with the support of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. In 842 provisions of the division of the Frankish kingdom were negotiated here by representatives of Louis´ three sons Lothair I, Charles the Bald and Louis the German. This negotiation resulted in the Treaty of Verdun (843), which divided the Frankish Empire into three parts (West Francia, Middle Francia and East Francia). Normans raided the area and destroyed the Carolingian church in 882. Rebuilding started soon after. The new church grew much larger over the next 200 years. In 1138 Konrad III was elected here by an assembly consisting only of friends and supporters. Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and Edward III of England swore allegiance and friendship at St. Kastor in 1338. The monastery existed upto 1802. At that time Koblenz was French. All building including the cloister got demolished. The church since then served the local parish. St. Kastor got renovated within the 19th century, but in 1944 St. Kastor was damaged by an air raid. Rebuilding started just after WWII, the restauration of the interior was finally completed in 1990.

Saint-Jean-d'Angély developed next to the "Abbaye Royale", founded in the 9th century by Pepin I of Aquitaine to house the skull of Saint John the Baptist. Pepin was one of Louis the Pious´ rebellious sons, who deposed their father in 833. During the Viking raids, they abbey was given up, but refounded thanks to Cluny. The abbey got wealthy and important, as most pilgrims, following the Via Turonensis stopped here. The abbey got looted during the 100 Years War and burned down during the Wars of Religion. These are the ruins of the large abbey church. Where the parking lot is now, were nave and aisles, before the Protestants raided and burnt down the abbey - that was when John the Baptist´s skull got lost. During the 18th century there were plans, to rebuild the church, but then the French Revolution put all that to an end. Only the western part of the church (not to seen from this pov) got reconstructed in 1899.

Saint-Jean-d'Angély developed next to the "Abbaye Royale", founded in the 9th century by Pepin I of Aquitaine to house the skull of Saint John the Baptist. Pepin was one of Louis the Pious´ rebellious sons, who deposed their father in 833. During the Viking raids, they abbey was given up, but refounded thanks to Cluny. The abbey got wealthy and important, as most pilgrims, following the Via Turonensis stopped here. The abbey got looted during the 100 Years War and burned down during the Wars of Religion. Rebuilt in the 17th and 18th century, the buildings of the former abbey now house the "Centre de Culture Européenne". www.abbaye-royale-angely.com/abbaye/

This is, what is left of one of the most important, medieval nunneries in Northern France. The abbey Notre Dame was founded by the Merovingians around 660. Charlemagne´s sister Gisela was abbess, his daughter Rotrude was nun here. In 789 under Louis the Pious the abbey in Herford (about 600kms northeast), the oldest nunnery in the Duchy of Saxony, was founded as a "filia" of this convent. The abbey once had three churches and was widely known for the holy relics, kept here. The collection got lost and all buildings were demolished after the French Revolution. Only this small Romaneque structure, once part of a transept, just opposite Soisson´s large cathedral can still be found.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes, indeed something like a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". The few carvings I saw inside the crypt under the choir are probably some decades older than the capitals of the nave. They are of course smaller and the carving style is less sophisticated.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes, indeed something like a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". All the walls of the crypt are covered with frescoes. These murals are so delicate, that unfortunately the crypt is actually closed for visitors. So the door was locked, but it had a small metal-grilled window.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes, indeed something like a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". For reasons unknown to me, I just have to follow such stairs, running down to the crypts. Not only here - just everywhere. That is why I carry a little flashlight in my pocket. Twice over the last years I could prove, that the BMI in medieval times must have been way smaller than my index. I got stuck, but that did not happen here.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes, indeed something like a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". The choir and the ambulatory. The stairs in front lead down to the crypt.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes, indeed something like a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". But there are as well many excellent carvings, like this capital, depicting lions, actually "green lions", as vines sprout out of the beasts` mouths.