Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint Martin

A parish existed here alread within the 10 century. Saint Martin was built between the 13th century and the 16th century. At that time, it was the chapel of a castle, some remains of the fortifications can still be seen.

On my way home to the hotel late at night, I took a break here. From exactly this spot I had taken a photo just a few hours ago. "What a difference the light makes, just a few little hours....."

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is a detail from the "nativity window". The "Dream of the Magi" and the Magi on their way home. For many pilgrims on their way to Santiago, the Magi were ideals, as they took a long way as well. So it is no surprise, that the Magi can be found frequently along the "chemin".

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is a detail from the "nativity window" (previous upload). The Magi on their way, following the star. Their visit at the palace of Herod (holding a sword). Above is the "Adoration of the Magi".

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir.

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Not surprising Sant Martin (aka "Martin of Tours") can be found. Here Saint Martin cuts his cloak in half to share with the beggar. Here Saint Martin cuts his cloak in half to share with the beggar. The cloak became a famous relic preserved at the Marmoutier Abbey near Tours. The miraculous cloak, ("cappa Sancti Martini") was carried by the kings and used as a holy relic during royal ceremonies. It is attested in the royal treasury in 679. The priests who cared for the cloak in its reliquary were called "cappellani". The word developed - French "chapelains", English "chaplain", German "Kaplan". The small temporary churches built for the relic were called "capella", the word for a little cloak. This word developed as well. French "chapelle", English "chapel", German "Kapelle".

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is one of them, themed around Saint Martin.

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. The nave is about 90m long. The choir the oldest part of the church. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the stained glass windows of the choir.

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade, seen here, was finished about 100 years later. The towers are about 70 m high.

The Visigoths, who followed the arian version of Christianity, had built a cathedral here, dedicated to Saint-Saturnin. When Clovis took over the town, after his Frankish troops had beaten the Visigoths, led by Alaric II, in the Battle of Vouillé (507), he had the Visigothic church demolished to build a new one dedicated to Saint-Pierre and consecrated in 560. This church burnt down, when the Vikings (aka Normans) sacked the town mid of the 8th century. A third cathedral was constructed and was consecrated in 1017. At the beginning of the 12th century, when the pilgrimage to Santiago boomed, this existing church was considered too small and too "humble". The erection of the new, larger cathedral started in 1110 and was completed already in 1128. The church's original appearance was modified a couple of times later. The Wars of Religion caused great damage here, one of the towers got completely destroyed. The restorations of the 19th century, led by Paul Abadie, ended in many more alterations. He even added the two flanking towers with conical tops, what Marcel Durliat did not like at all. Paul Abadie later built Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. His restorations are disputed, where ever he worked (eg Sainte-Croix (Bordeaux), Saint-Front (Périgueux). Most of his works seem "overrenovated", following his idea of a medieval structure. Here is a closer look onto the "renovated" facade. This is the oldest part of the cathedral, as the building process started in 1110 here. Two themes can be seen, the Ascension and the Last Judgement. On the right is Saint Martin, cutting his cloak in two, on the left Saint George, killing the dragon.

The town was founded by the hermit Domingo de la Calzada (aka "Dominic of the Causeway"), who supported the pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela. Domingo not only built a hospital for the pilgrims, but as well a paved causeway and a bridge. He was such a successfull architect, that he is still patron saint of the Spanish civil engineers. The first church, erected by him, got consecrated in 1106. The Romanesque apse and the ambulatory of that church have survived the times. Under the roofs of the apse are some great corbels and capitals. Cultural exchange was very common along the caminos/chemins. In the nearby town of Estella (founded 1090) recent excavations have proven, that early settlers came from Le Puy ("Via Podiensis") and Tour ("Via Turonensis"). So it is no wonder, that architectural designs and icons "traveled" with the pilgrims. Here is Saint Martin cutting his cloak ("capella") in half to share with the poor man. Martin of Tours was Bishop of Tours. His shrine in France was a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago. He was one of the most familiar saints for the frankish pilgrims.

A church, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tour, was consecrated in 1156, the village is known already since the 11th century for supplying wine to the monastery in Leyre. The church is on the highest spot of the little village and the lanes going up there are really narrow. When I finally reached the church I knew, that it was to late to see the crypt. Actually I could not even enter the church but only walk around it - and take some pictures. One of the capitals flanking the door depicts Saint Martin of Tour on man on horseback, He has cut his cloak in two and is handing one half of it to a beggar, who is barfoot and wears only a kind of rag.