Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Philippe d'Alsace

Probably since the beginning the Église Saint-Jacques is surounded by the village´s graveyard. The erection started in 1169. Philip I (aka "Philippe d'Alsace"), count of Flandres and founder of Cappelle-Brouck, endowed a relic of Saint Jaques to this church, when he returned from his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella in 1172. So this church was a halt for many pilgrims heading south (or returning). I found that it took 85 days from here to Santiago, what is about 25kms/day. The once Romansque basilica, got altered quite often over the centuries in different styles. During WWII it got severely damaged, so that the westen facade had to be rebuilt after a collapse in 1950.

Probably since the beginning the Église Saint-Jacques is surounded by the village´s graveyard. The erection started in 1169. Philip I (aka "Philippe d'Alsace"), count of Flandres and founder of Cappelle-Brouck, endowed a relic of Saint Jaques to this church, when he returned from his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella in 1172. So this church was a halt for many pilgrims heading south (or returning). I found that it took 85 days from here to Santiago, what is about 25kms/day. The once Romansque basilica, got altered quite often over the centuries in different styles. During WWII it got severely damaged, so that the westen facade had to be rebuilt after a collapse in 1950.

Since the 10th century the Earls of Valois had a castle here. One of them, Gauthier le Blanc, founded the "Abbaye Saint-Arnoul" in 1008, to house the relics of Saint Arnoul. Since 1077 the abbey was a filiation of Cluny. As well in Crepy-en-Valois Philippe d'Alsace and his wife founded a collegiate in 1182. They dedicated this to Saint-Thomas Becket, what was a clear political statement. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered in 1170, after Henry II of England (aka "Henry Plantagenet") in a conflict with Becket had asked "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?". About 150 years after that, the war between the House of Plantagenet and the House of Valois had started. During this Hundred Years' War, the English sacked Crépy-en-Valois and destroyed most of it. The "Abbaye Saint-Arnoul" recovered, but was sold and demolished after the Revolution. What was left, crumbled until since the 1960s volunteers care for the ruins and save, what has survived. Here are three capitals, remains of the former crypt.

The ruins of the abbey Saint-Arnoul are to the left. The church in the background is Saint-Denis, now parish church. It once was part of a castle owned by the local Earls of Valois. One of them, Gauthier le Blanc, founded the "Abbaye Saint-Arnoul" in 1008, to house the relics of Saint Arnoul. Since 1077 the abbey was a filiation of Cluny. As well in Crepy-en-Valois Philippe d'Alsace and his wife founded a collegiate in 1182. They dedicated this to Saint-Thomas Becket, what was a clear political statement. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered in 1170, after Henry II of England (aka "Henry Plantagenet") in a conflict with Becket had asked "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?". About 150 years after that, the war between the House of Plantagenet and the House of Valois had started. During this Hundred Years' War, the English sacked Crépy-en-Valois and destroyed most of it. The "Abbaye Saint-Arnoul" recovered, but was sold and demolished after the Revolution. What was left, crumbled until since the 1960s volunteers care for the ruins and save, what has survived.