Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: hall crypt

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m². The crypt is so large, that it is impossible to give an impression by just one photo, so I´ll upload a couple of shots. In the background to the right is the same the central chapel of the crypt as before, visible here is the right aisle. There are more than 40 groin vaults. The sandstones alternate in colour, a design often used in romanesque architecture (e.g. Vezelay) that may be connected to Mozarabic art. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m². The crypt is so large, that it is impossible to give an impression by just one photo, so I´ll upload a couple of shots. Seen here is the central chapel of the crypt. The burial site of the Salian (and other) emperors is in another part of the crypt. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

St. Lucius is today part of a theological seminary, overlooking Chur. but is not. A church is known here already since about 400, but probably after 730 a Carolingian church with three apses was built, as a burial place for the local nobility. It was dedicated to Luzius of Chur a legendary saint, who may have been a former King of Brittany or an early Bishop of Chur. This church was handed over in 1140 to the Premonstratensians (aka "Norbertines"), founded in Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert (aka Norbert of Xanten). The Premonstratensians rebuilt and enlarged the existing the church in Romanesque style. Around 1500 the church got a new (meanwhile replaced) Gothic vaulting. Upstairs the three nave risen choir downstairs the crypt. The doors, seen in the "hall-crypt" (left and right) lead into a semicircular "ring crypt". This crypt was part of the Carolingian church.

Since the times of Hugh Capet, the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet, Étampes was an important place. It was a crown domain between Paris and Orleans. Hugh´s son Robert II (aka "Robert the Pious") built a stronghold here and founded a collegiate here in the 11th century. The former collegiate church Notre-Dame-du-Fort was erected within the 12th century in (traditional) Romanesque and (modern) Gothic style. Only the crypt dates back to the earlier 10th century-church. Here the relics of the martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla were kept. The popular saints were orphaned siblings beheaded during Diocletian's persecution. "Robert the Pious" had transferred the relics to Étampes from Milano. Since the 19th century Notre-Dame-du-Fort serves the parish. In 1562, during the first War of Religions, the Calvinist troops raided, ransacked and vandalized the church. Whatever was spared outside the church, it got smashed during the French Revolution. The crypt is the oldest part of Notre-Dame-du-Fort, as this goes back to the church of the early 11th century, commissioned by Robert the Pious. This is a "hall crypt", with six pillars and a little apse. Obviously this capital, near to the stairs, got lost and the plaster was a perfect place to carve in graffiti.

Since the times of Hugh Capet, the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet, Étampes was an important place. It was a crown domain between Paris and Orleans. Hugh´s son Robert II (aka "Robert the Pious") built a stronghold here and founded a collegiate here in the 11th century. The former collegiate church Notre-Dame-du-Fort was erected within the 12th century in (traditional) Romanesque and (modern) Gothic style. Only the crypt dates back to the earlier 10th century-church. Here the relics of the martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla were kept. The popular saints were orphaned siblings beheaded during Diocletian's persecution. "Robert the Pious" had transferred the relics to Étampes from Milano. Since the 19th century Notre-Dame-du-Fort serves the parish. In 1562, during the first War of Religions, the Calvinist troops raided, ransacked and vandalized the church. Whatever was spared outside the church, it got smashed during the French Revolution. The crypt is the oldest part of Notre-Dame-du-Fort, as this goes back to the church of the early 11th century, commissioned by Robert the Pious. This is a "hall crypt", with six pillars and a little apse.The capitals of the pillars are sculpted with spirals and crosses.

Since the times of Hugh Capet, the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet, Étampes was an important place. It was a crown domain between Paris and Orleans. Hugh´s son Robert II (aka "Robert the Pious") built a stronghold here and founded a collegiate here in the 11th century. The former collegiate church Notre-Dame-du-Fort was erected within the 12th century in (traditional) Romanesque and (modern) Gothic style. Only the crypt dates back to the earlier 10th century-church. Here the relics of the martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla were kept. The popular saints were orphaned siblings beheaded during Diocletian's persecution. "Robert the Pious" had transferred the relics to Étampes from Milano. Since the 19th century Notre-Dame-du-Fort serves the parish. In 1562, during the first War of Religions, the Calvinist troops raided, ransacked and vandalized the church. Whatever was spared outside the church, it got smashed during the French Revolution. The crypt under the choir is the oldest part of Notre-Dame-du-Fort, as this goes back to the church of the early 11th century, commissioned by Robert the Pious. This is a "hall crypt", with six pillars and a little apse at the end of the central nave. It probably outlines the choir of the first church. The frescoes seen here were added in the 16th century.

Since the times of Hugh Capet, the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet, Étampes was an important place. It was a crown domain between Paris and Orleans. Hugh´s son Robert II (aka "Robert the Pious") built a stronghold here and founded a collegiate here in the 11th century. The former collegiate church Notre-Dame-du-Fort was erected within the 12th century in (traditional) Romanesque and (modern) Gothic style. Only the crypt dates back to the earlier 10th century-church. Here the relics of the martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla were kept. The popular saints were orphaned siblings beheaded during Diocletian's persecution. "Robert the Pious" had transferred the relics to Étampes from Milano. Since the 19th century Notre-Dame-du-Fort serves the parish. In 1562, during the first War of Religions, the Calvinist troops raided, ransacked and vandalized the church. Whatever was spared outside the church, it got smashed during the French Revolution. The crypt under the choir is the oldest part of Notre-Dame-du-Fort, as this goes back to the church of the early 11th century, commissioned by Robert the Pious. This is a "hall crypt", with six pillars and a little apse at the end of the central nave. It probably outlines the choir of the first church. The frescoes seen here were added in the 16th century.